![The project commissioned by Centrica [source: Wartsila]](http://gastopower.co.uk/media/k2/items/cache/c8ad2db3db77b401fb41b1b591aa2c31_S.jpg)
Wartsila has signed a deal to supply two 50 MW gas-fired plants to energy company Centrica in the UK.
The order comes after Centrica was successful in the latest capacity market auction in the UK securing agreements for more than 500MW of new build power facilities, the company said.
Each plant is based on five Wartsila 34SG engines. The power plants are scheduled to be operational in 2018.
Wartsila's scope covers the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC).
The two gas-fired smart power generation plants will be located at Brigg in North East Lincolnshire and Peterborough in Cambridgeshire. They will generate power for balancing services and will together be capable of providing electricity for approximately 100,000 households “in less than two minutes from start to full load” Wartsila said.
“The ability to start rapidly is one of the key reasons why Wartsila’s power plant technology was chosen for these sites” the company said, adding that “the UK has added substantial amounts of intermittent renewable power generation and the power system needs flexible power plants to make sure that the system is kept reliable.”
“Furthermore, the capacity mechanism in the UK allows Centrica to operate fast response gas-fired plant competitively in the balancing market” it added.
The plants will be “the biggest medium-speed engine-based gas power plants in the UK” bringing Wartsila's installed capacity in the UK to more 250 MW, it said.