Drax is progressing plans to upgrade units 3 and 4 at Cruachan Power Station.
The project will see the generating capacity of the two units each increase from 100MW to 120MW, enlarging the station’s total output to 480MW.
This project is separate to the Cruachan Expansion project, a proposed new underground pumped hydro power station which could be located adjacent to the existing plant.
Why the upgrade?
As well as enabling Cruachan to generate more flexible power for tens of thousands of homes, the upgrade will form part of a refurbishment of the units.
The units were commissioned in 1965 and contain parts, including their turbines, which are now more than 50 years old. This project will enable the units to not only generate more power, but increase their operating flexibility and efficiency – as well as extending their lives for many more years to come.
Cruachan’s other two units – units 1 and 2 – were similarly upgraded and refurbished in the early 2000s.
