New gas turbine at King’s Lynn power station

Major refurbishment at King’s Lynn power station, will breath new life into the mothballed site.

The investment into the 370MW plant was confirmed in December last year as part of a £180m investment programme into new flexible power plants across the country.

Once complete, King’s Lynn will be capable of producing enough power to meet the needs of around 370,000 households, almost all the homes in Norfolk.

Mark Futyan, Merchant Power Director of Centrica’s Distributed Energy & Power business said: “It’s great to be starting work on site after such a long period of uncertainty for the team here at King’s Lynn. Once again, this power station will be able to play its part in helping to keep the lights on for hundreds of thousands of local people – no mean feat but one we’re ready to deliver.”

A team of up to 200 people will be on site during the construction with around 30 permanent jobs once the plant is up and running in 2019.

Sir Henry Bellingham, MP for North West Norfolk, said: “This massive investment programme is phenomenally good news for King’s Lynn and West Norfolk. Not only will it create a large number of jobs during the construction phase and refurbishment, but the installation of a new gas turbine and refurbishment of King’s Lynn power station will underpin 30 permanent and well paid jobs. It is also a very big vote of confidence in King’s Lynn.”

Councillor Brian Long, Leader of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, said: “I welcome this project. Improving the efficiency of our local power station is good news for the local environment. Every increase in efficiency is more power generated for fewer natural resources.”

Notes to editors:

• Centrica is an international energy and services company.
• Our Distributed Energy & Power business has been established as a new global business unit with a focus on helping businesses and other large energy users to take control of their energy.
• Originally commissioned in 1997, King’s Lynn was mothballed in 2012 when the plant became uneconomic to run.
• The turbine is being supplied and installed by Siemens who will also be replacing the plant control system and performing major overhauls to other elements within the main power train. CMI have been appointed to perform a repowering of the boiler while TEi have been appointed to perform upgrades to the water steam cycle.

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