ECO POWER


FLEXIBLE POWER SOLUTIONS


When a power source is needed that can quickly ramp up to demand, reciprocating gas engines can be the solution, as Finning explains


T


he past decade has seen a shift in how the UK generates and delivers power to homes and businesses. The government’s Net Zero 2050 and Clean Power 2030 targets are driving a transition away from traditional fossil fuels towards more renewable sources. However, the intermittent nature of renewables


creates challenges in ensuring a consistent and reliable supply of electricity. When cloud cover limits solar output or wind conditions are unfavourable, there needs to be flexible power sources that can quickly ramp up to meet demand. This is where reciprocating gas engines come


to the fore as an energy solution. These engines can start generating power within minutes, providing the fast response required to fill gaps left by fluctuating renewable generation. Their fast start-up time gives them a key advantage over traditional power stations that can take hours to reach full output.


Mercia operates several power response facilities across the UK with a total capacity of 243MW


Mercia’s generators respond quickly, feeding the required power directly into the local grid and avoiding the need for long warm-up and cool-down times that more traditional methods require


A LEADING EXAMPLE One company that is delivering these flexible power services is Mercia Power Response. When supply is


revenue certainty. Other models include the National Grid’s Firm Frequency Response programme, which pays operators to have


“Looking ahead, there are expectations that reciprocating engines may play an even bigger role by utilising hydrogen as a fuel source for


power generation. Hydrogen is seen as a potential pathway for storing surplus renewable energy that can later be converted back into electricity via hydrogen-fuelled generators or fuel cells”


short, Mercia’s generators respond quickly, feeding the required power directly into the local grid and avoiding the need for long warm-up and cool- down times that more traditional methods require. Mercia currently operates several power


response facilities across the UK with a total capacity of 243MW, supported by reciprocating gas generator sets from Caterpillar via their largest dealer, Finning UK & Ireland. The Mercia portfolio features over 100 Cat generators ready to provide backup electricity for the national grid. For Mercia, Finning adjusted the standard Cat


generator to minimise the total cost of ownership by reducing the system’s static operating power loads while still maintaining operational efficiency.


A LUCRATIVE MODEL ENABLED BY TECHNOLOGY The business model for companies like Mercia has been enabled by the advancement of reciprocating engine technology combined with new energy market mechanisms. The generators can start rapidly and run for relatively short periods, making them ideally suited for the role of providing backup power to supplement renewables. Mercia operates on a 15-year fixed price Capacity Mechanism Contract, which has been designed to incentivise investment in responsive power generation by providing long-term


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generators ready to deliver reserve electricity in under 30 seconds, whenever shortfalls occur.


THE HYDROGEN FUTURE Looking ahead, there are expectations that reciprocating engines may play an even bigger role by utilising hydrogen as a fuel source for power generation. Hydrogen is seen as a potential pathway for storing surplus renewable energy that can later be converted back into electricity via hydrogen-fuelled generators or fuel cells. Engines, like the Cat generators being used


by Mercia, are already capable of operating on hydrogen blends and many organisations are exploring the use of hydrogen as a future option. Hydrogen could be key for addressing the longer inter seasonal gaps in renewable output. However, robust regulation and policy


mechanisms will likely be needed to make hydrogen power generation viable from both a technical and economic perspective. This includes appropriately pricing greenhouse gas emissions to incentivise investment in hydrogen infrastructure. Regardless, the increasing penetration of renewable sources seems certain to drive continued demand for flexible power solutions like reciprocating engines and energy storage.


Finning www.finning.com/en_GB.html


ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Winter 2024 27


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