February 20th,  2025

Great Britain shows that it can be done without coal – almost! This winter, the proportion of coal in the electricity mix fell below one percent. Instead, the country is relying on wind and solar energy, nuclear power, biomass and mtu gas gensets.

They are as much a part of the UK as afternoon tea, Wimbledon or the Beatles: gas-fired power plants with mtu engines are indispensable for power generation in the UK. This is because the country – like so many others – relies on renewable energy sources to generate electricity. If these are not available, gensets with mtu gas engines step in.

What is special about the British model is that the operators of these gas gensets are not only paid when they provide electricity. They are also paid for their capacity to be available in times of need. “That makes it lucrative for the operators of gas-fired power plants, of course,” explains Ben Howkins, who manages sales of mtu engines for gensets in the UK.

500 mtu gensets support the British capacity market

Over 500 gensets powered by mtu gas engines are already in operation across the UK. Just recently, Terra Firma Energy in Droitwich Spa, UK, commissioned a new plant with two mtu-20V4000 L64 FNER gas gensets with a total output of 5 megawatts. They were supplied by Rolls-Royce’s long-standing partner Yellow Power, which installs the mtu gas engines in containers.

Two new mtu gas engines with a combined output of five megawatts have recently been commissioned in Droitwich Spa, UK.

“Normally, these generators are in operation for between 1,000 and 2,500 hours per year. Due to the unusually cold winter and the need for more grid capacity, the operating hours this year are likely to be higher,” said Howkins.

The mtu gas gensets are characterized by high efficiency and low emissions. As soon as green hydrogen is available and economical, they can also be converted to hydrogen engines and thus operated in a climate-neutral manner.

“The commissioning of our power plant in Droitwich is a testament to the power of partnerships and shared visions. Each of our partners has played a crucial role in making this project a reality, ensuring that it delivers flexible and reliable energy to meet the challenges of a modern electricity grid,” said William Davies, Managing Director of Terra Firma Energy at the opening of the plant.

Up to full load within 120 seconds

Gas genset power plants can be expanded within just twelve months as modular, containerized units and installed wherever there is access to the electricity grid and gas connections. The mtu gensets in Droitwich could be ramped up to full load within 120 seconds if required. As they are usually only operated at full power for a few hours two or three times a day, maintenance and overhaul costs are also low over the entire service life of the genset.

“With mtu’s efficient, fast-starting gas gensets, the UK is securing its electricity supply – and taking an important step towards a renewable future,” said Howkins. An energy future that is set to be not only coal-free but also climate-neutral by 2035 – earlier than in the vast majority of European countries.

Capacity market versus energy-only market