National Grid: SBR contracts signed for 3.5GW of capacity

National Grid has secured more than 3.5GW of back up capacity for the Supplemental Balancing Reserve in the winter of 2016/17.

Last week Utility Week reported that Centrica, Eon and ESB had signed the contracts they were offered in December, and that Engie had signed one of two.

National Grid has since released an update revealing that SSE has signed four of the five contracts it had been granted. They include a contract for 646MW of de-rated capacity from its Peterhead combined cycle gas turbine plant and a 422MW contract for its Fiddler’s Ferry coal-fired plant. The big six supplier turned down one contract for 30MW of gas turbine capacity at its Ferrybridge plant.

The only contract that remains outstanding is for 24MW of gas turbine capacity at Engie’s Rugeley plant. A spokeswoman for the company said the delivery of that contract depended on the timing of the closure of its coal-fired plant at the site, which was announced last month. 

Earlier this week National Grid played down fears of blackouts in the coming winter following the publication of a forecast predicting supply shortfalls in 11 weeks of the season. A spokesman said the back up capacity secured through the SBR was not included in the projections and could help to fill any shortfalls that arose.