Project
Thurrock Power
Tilbury, Essex
Strategically located close to London, Thurrock Power will play a significant role in maintaining the UK’s energy security. It facilitates the immediate and efficient deployment of energy directly where it is most needed, significantly enhancing grid stability and resilience. The site is also located immediately north of the former Tilbury coal power station, transforming the site’s legacy to enable the clean energy transition.
The project will comprise 95 fired reciprocating engines, able to reach full output capacity in less than 8 minutes. The site can provide a sustained delivery of electricity to the grid according to system needs, whether that be due to a shortage in network connected generation or an increase in overall UK demand.
Services
Wholesale power markets
The Wholesale Market is the primary market for wholesale electricity trading between generators and suppliers. Electricity can be traded from years ahead up to one hour ahead of the delivery. Flexible technologies such as batteries and gas reciprocating engines are mainly targeting short-term trading by providing real-time flexibility to help balance the system. Therefore, they trade mainly in day-ahead to intraday markets.
Day-ahead hourly, half-hourly and intraday auctions
Within-day power markets on the intraday exchange
Capacity Market
Two auctions are held yearly to disburse capacity contracts 1 and 4 years ahead of delivery for keeping generation capacity ready for response.
Providers are paid an availability payment for being connected. New build generators can apply for a 15-year contract in the T-4 auction while existing generators or those able to reduce demand can apply for a one-year contract in the T-1 auction. To ensure delivery, there are stringent rules to prequalify and meet the various milestones required to participate in the Capacity Market.
All of Statera’s assets are designed to deliver this reserve service to National Grid.
Balancing Mechanism
This is to respond to events including power station trips, demand surges and intermittent renewable generation. Flexible technologies such as batteries and gas reciprocating engines are well placed to provide real-time flexibility in the BM to help.
