Drax assumes commercial control of Hirwaun Power Station, the first of three 299MW OCGT plants

Type: Development · Technology: Gas · Country: United Kingdom · Capacity: 299 MW · Announced: 2026-05-29

Drax Group plc announced the completion of commissioning for Hirwaun Power Station in South Wales, marking its assumption of commercial control from developer Metlen Energy & Metals. This 299MW Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) plant is the first of three such facilities Drax is developing in England and Wales, which will collectively provide approximately 900MW of capacity. The OCGTs will be remunerated through peak power generation, system support services, and long-term index-linked Capacity Market agreements extending to 2039, valued at over £260 million in revenue. These flexible OCGT plants are designed to switch on and off quickly to meet high demand, supporting the integration of intermittent renewables and enhancing energy security across the UK system. Siemens Energy manages the day-to-day operations of the sites, which also feature a clutch mechanism allowing them to operate as Synchronous Compensators for non-generation services like inertia and voltage control.

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