Partner Article

Smith Brothers set to fire up 20MW gas peaking plant in Wales

Yorkshire-headquartered Smith Brothers Contracting Ltd is well underway with the design, build and energisation of a 20MW gas peaking power plant in Ebbw Vale, Wales, on behalf of developer Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners.

The five-month project, due to be connected to the Western Power Distribution (WPD) network in February 2021, will see electrical engineering specialist Smith Brothers managing all EPC works, alongside the balance of plant for the private network – which encompasses all supporting components and auxiliary systems needed to deliver the energy, alongside the generation units themselves.

With a highly skilled team tasked with the delivery, the scope of works include full civil and electrical design, procurement of electrical equipment for the private network, construction of the gas peaking power plant, installation of switchgear, transformers and generators, and final testing of all components prior to energisation.

Matt Selkirk, project manager at Smith Brothers Contracting said: “Smith Brothers is working on several gas peaking projects at present, and it’s a sector we’re becoming increasingly well-regarded for. Although the timescales are particularly tight on this delivery – with Christmas thrown in the middle of the schedule – we’re looking forward to seeing the site energised early this year.

“We are currently working on four similar projects with Quinbrook – Wednesbury, Itchen, Basildon and Station Road, and hope this is a partnership which will continue long into the future.”

Other projects between Smith Brothers and Quinbrook include a 10.3MW plant in Great Harwood and a 6MW site in Burnley – each set to export electrical power to Distribution Network Operator (DNO), Electricity North West.

Located in Elland, West Yorkshire, Smith Brothers is a high-voltage power engineering contractor and accredited ICP, specialising in delivering turnkey network connection packages across an array of sectors – including renewable energy, utilities, industrial and commercial.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Katie Mallinson .