A major upgrade project is underway at ScottishPower’s Longannet Power Station in Fife, with up to 650 workers on-site over a 4 month period to deliver a £25 million overhaul of one of the station’s four generating units.

More than 50 individual contracts have been awarded as part of the project, marking a considerable investment in the power station. Longannet has been helping to power Scotland for more than 40 years, and this multi-million pound upgrade will ensure continued efficient operation.

The work is being carried out on Unit 3, which alone is capable of generating up to 600MW of electricity – approximately 10% of Scotland’s average peak electricity demand. The work will encompass the full replacement of major boiler parts, including the pipe work, the replacement of the Generator Transformer, and an overhaul of valves, pumps and motors.

Neil Clitheroe, CEO of ScottishPower Retail and Generation said: “Longannet is the largest power station in Scotland, and it plays a pivotal role in producing electricity supplies for millions of homes and businesses. We have invested in the station for more than 40 years, and just last year we undertook a £20 million upgrade project on another unit. The work over the summer this year will help the station to remain an important part of Scotland’s energy mix.

“With the closure of Cockenzie Power Station earlier this year, it is vital that we continue to invest in major power stations like Longannet. As well as the station’s importance for Scotland’s energy security, it also supports thousands of jobs across a wide and varied supply chain. Beyond our investment in the station’s maintenance, we have also heavily invested in its environmental performance in recent years, meaning that the station will operate efficiently for many years to come.”
 

Media Information: Simon McMillan / Paul Ferguson: 0141 614 4582

Notes to Editors:

Longannet Power Station Facts:

• The station is located on the banks of the Firth of Forth, on 89 hectares of land (or 89,000m2)
• First opened in 1969 – it was fully operational from 1973
• It operates four 600-megawatt (MW) turbines, and has a net output of 2,304MW of electricity, which is enough to keep the lights on in 2 million UK homes
• It is the second largest coal power station in the UK, and third largest in Europe