Mitsubishi Power recently completed an upgraded reliability package at the 812 MW gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) facility at Damhead Creek Power Station, owned and operated by VPI.

The upgrade includes multiple enhancements aimed at improving start-up response, operational performance and overall plant reliability, along with an upgrade to the turbine control system. These measures are intended to increase uptime and extend the operating life of the facility.

Gas-fired GTCC plants play a critical role in power systems with high renewable energy penetration, such as the UK, by providing flexible and responsive generation to balance intermittent wind and solar output. As a result, turbines are required to cycle more frequently, placing higher operational demands on plant equipment.

Mitsubishi Power supplied the original turbines to the Damhead Creek facility in 2000. Following its acquisition of the plant in 2021, VPI entered into a long-term service agreement with Mitsubishi Power covering maintenance, parts supply, remote monitoring and the implementation of the upgraded reliability package.

Located on the Hoo Peninsula in Kent, the plant has been in operation since 2001 and supplies flexible electricity to around 1.1 million homes across the South East of England. The completed upgrade is expected to support more efficient and reliable operations while enabling greater integration of renewable energy into the regional power grid.