St Helens

Jan 12, 2023

Over the past year, Terra Firma Energy has rapidly expanded its presence within the UK’s balancing power market, thanks to the successful commissioning and commercial operation of our first 20MW Gas Peaking Plant at Burtonhead Road, St. Helens. This accomplishment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Terra Firma Energy team, as well as the support of our partners and suppliers. Our 7-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with EDF Energy has enabled the plant to supply power directly to the UK wholesale and balancing markets, solidifying our position in the UK’s power generation market.

Our plant’s ability to export 20MW of power directly to the distribution network in less than 10 minutes from a request makes it a vital component of the UK power grid. We’re confident that this reliable and secure source of power generation will serve our customers for many years to come. Furthermore, our new trading profile allows us to book forward trades quarterly in advance, greatly increasing our asset’s profitability for Q1 and Q4 of each year. With the new trading profile factored in, the site’s RICS valuation has now exceeded £22.5 million.

Moreover, the site is capable of fulfilling our Capacity Market Contract Obligations and aiding the National Grid in the event of potential power supply issues. Given the operational impacts on wind and solar generation caused by harsh and varying weather conditions during the winter months, the Burtonhead Road site will play a critical role in ensuring a steady and secure power supply for homes and businesses when they need it the most.