Test operation of the HL-class turbine in the 50 Hertz market, follows the recent first fire and synchronization to the grid of its first 60-Hertz version in a power plant in the United States.
Transport by ship
The SGT5-9000HL measures 13 meters in length, five meters in height, five meters in width, and weighs nearly 500 metric tons. To transport the heavy-duty turbine, it was loaded onto an inland cargo ship in Berlin and is now on rout to Britain.
The turbine will first travel by inland waterways, heading west to the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, where it will be loaded onto a coastal ship for transport to the eastern coast of England. It will travel up the Humber and Trent rivers for approximately 12 days until it reaches the inland port of Keadby, where it will be lifted off the ship and driven to the construction site.
Start-up slated for 2021
Once arrived, the HL-turbine will be put into test operation and subsequently converted to combined-cycle mode. Set to run at over 63% efficiency, it will help SSE save fuel and reduce carbon emissions at Keadby-2 by as much as 3.7 million metric tons per year, compared to coal-fired power plants.
Initial operation of the new turbine in Keadby is scheduled for 2021, and once fully grid-synchronized it will provide provide enough electricity to a city with 3.3 million inhabitants.
SSE Thermal aims will place the turbine into commercial operation in 2022, following successful testing.
Stephen Wheeler, Managing Director, SSE Thermal, said the “first-of-a-kind technology will make Keadby 2 the UK’s cleanest and most efficient gas-fired power station, displacing older, more carbon-intensive generation, and providing vital flexibility for the electricity system.”
In addition to the technology, Siemens is also providing service with its first long-term program (LTP) for an HL-class gas turbine in Europe. Siemens will utilize its advanced digital service solutions, including remote monitoring and diagnostics, to help maintain the availability, reliability and optimal performance of the power plant.