Constructed in the 1930s, Glenlee’s two 12MW generating units are powered by water stored in the huge Clatteringshaws Reservoir. With over 30 million tonnes of water stored annually, Glenlee is one the scheme’s most flexible and valuable assets.
Drax has appointed UK-based Quartzelec as the main contractor for the upgrade project. Quartzelec is a leading independent electrical engineering group delivering solutions and services in both UK and global markets and is a technical authority in rotating electrical machines.
Ian Kinnaird, Drax’s FlexGen Assets Director, said: “Glenlee has been generating renewable electricity for almost a century, and this major refurbishment will help it continue to do so for many years to come.”
“While Galloway’s power stations may have been constructed decades ago, the homegrown renewable electricity they generate has never been more important. This multi-million-pound investment by Drax will ensure it is generating renewable power for many years to come.”
Andrew Dawson, Head of Engineering at Quartzelec’s HQ Facility, Rugby, UK said: “We are very proud to be given the opportunity to continue our long-term relationship with Drax on a project as significant as this. Our technical expertise is deeply rooted in the hydro and wider power generation market, and we are delighted that we can continue to develop the UK’s renewable power schemes.”
The major upgrade to the two units will improve their operability and reliability, lengthening their lifespan. Drax’s investment is underpinned by the award of 15-year capacity market agreement worth around £20 million.
Drax is also progressing an £80 million upgrade of its iconic ‘Hollow Mountain’ Cruachan pumped storage hydro plant in Scotland.
ENDS
Media contacts:
Aidan Kerr
Drax Group Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07849090368
Editor’s Notes
About Drax
Drax’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future. Our strategic aims are to be a global leader in both carbon removals and sustainable biomass pellet production, and to be a UK leader in dispatchable, renewable generation.
Our operations
Drax owns and operates a portfolio of flexible, low-carbon and renewable UK power assets – biomass, hydro, and pumped storage generation – which provide dispatchable power and system support services to the electricity grid.
We are the UK’s largest source of renewable power by output, and Drax Power Station is the UK’s largest single source of renewable electricity by output.
Through our pellet production facilities in North America, Drax is a leading integrated producer of sustainable biomass. Drax has 18 operational and development pellet production sites which will have a nameplate capacity of around 5.4 million tonnes once expansions are complete.
Drax supplies renewable electricity to UK industrial and commercial customers, offering a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.
Our future
Drax is progressing options for carbon removals using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology globally and at our UK biomass power station. We are progressing plans to develop 7 million tonnes of carbon removals through BECCS by 2030.
In 2024, we launched Elimini, a US-based company to lead our global efforts to deliver carbon removals at scale. Elimini’s purpose is to remove carbon for good. To achieve this, it is convening engineers, environmentalists, communities, investors, and innovators to scale the market for carbon removals, with the aspiration of transforming our economies from carbon emitters to carbon removers. For more information, visit elimini.com.
