Drax selects ANDRITZ for Cruachan Power Station upgrade

UK power producer Drax has appointed hydropower technology supplier ANDRITZ Hydro as the main contractor for the Cruachan upgrade project.

Drax’s Cruachan Power Station is located in Argyll and is one of just four pumped storage hydro facilities in the UK.

The £80 million ($100 million) project will see the generating capacity of two of the plant’s four units increased by a combined 40MW to raise the facility’s total generating capacity to 480MW.

The upgrade will not only increase capacity but will also improve operability and reliability.

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The units were commissioned in 1965 and contain parts, including their turbines, which are now more than 50 years old.

Drax’s interim chief operating officer, Penny Small, commented: “These plants play a critical role in stabilising the electricity system, helping to balance supply and demand through storing excess power. When wind turbines are generating more power than we need, Cruachan steps in to store the renewable electricity so it doesn’t go to waste."

Besides this upgrade project, Drax is also planning to build a new 600MW pumped storage power station adjacent to the existing Cruachan facility.

Pumped storage provides extremely quick back-up during periods of excess demand by maintaining stability on the National Grid. According to Drax, Cruachan can reach full load in 30 seconds and can maintain its maximum power production for more than 16 hours if necessary.