Five-year project will end with significant emissions reduction
(May 11, 2012) – Drax Power Station is a month away from completing the largest steam turbine modernization program in U.K. history, thereby increasing its overall efficiency and reinforcing its position as the most efficient coal-fired power station in the U.K. The project, which has taken five years to complete, will enable Drax Power Station to reduce its emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) by one million tons a year, equivalent to taking 275,000 cars off the road. The increased overall efficiency of almost 40% will also improve reliability and availability in generation output, delivering greater value to the business.
Siemens Energy was awarded the £100 million contract to modernize all six units at the power station in 2007. Over the subsequent five year period, together Drax and Siemens have replaced the low pressure and high pressure turbines on all six units at the power station. The new turbines, manufactured by Siemens Germany, consist of 28 separate turbine rotors weighing over 2,800 tons, and over 80,000 individualized turbine blades, which, laid end-to-end would stretch the distance of the London marathon.
Darren Davidson, Head of Projects Energy Service Fossil, Siemens Newcastle said, "We are delighted to have been part of this key project for Drax and to have contributed to its carbon emission reduction and efficiency targets so significantly. Over the past five years, each unit has been delivered successfully and on schedule. We must thank the team at Drax and our colleagues in Newcastle and Mulheim for their cooperative approach."