Centrica Energy And Zelestra Sign Battery Storage Tolling Agreement
The title of of this post, is the same as that as this press release from Centrica.
This is the sub-heading.
Centrica Energy and Zelestra have signed a physical tolling agreement for 99 MW / 297 MWh of battery storage capacity at Zelestra’s Hilgermissen BESS project, located in Lower Saxony, Germany.
These three paragraphs add some more details.
Under the agreement, Zelestra will develop, construct and own the battery storage project, building on their experience in delivering major projects in other markets and their extensive pipeline across Europe. Engineering and procurement activities will be completed this year leading to start of construction in 2027 and operations in 2028.
Under the tolling agreement, the battery will be optimised through Centrica Energy’s multi-market trading and optimisation services, enabling participation across Day-Ahead, Intraday and Ancillary Services in Germany.
Lower Saxony has a strong industrial base, from the automotive industry to agriculture and food production, as well as being a strong wind power and biomass energy producer. With a growing need for flexible capacity to support the stability and resilience of the power system, the BESS project will help accelerate renewable integration, strengthen grid flexibility and support Germany’s wider decarbonisation objectives.
In some ways, I find this press release a bit surprising.
Surely, a nation like Germany has the mathematicians, who are capable of doing this optimisation of a Battery Energy Storage System or BESS.
In New Optimisation Agreement For 70 MW / 160 MWh BESS In Sweden, I wrote about Centrica doing the same thing for the Swedes.
It strikes me, that somewhere in Centrica are one or more very bright mathematicians.
They have a web page, where they describe what they can do for your BESS.
I also believe, that underlying the management of the UK’s gas and the Grain LNG Terminal, which I talk about in Andy Burnham Set For Clash With MPs Over North Sea Oil And Gas, there is some very clever mathematics.
Andy Burnham Set For Clash With MPs Over North Sea Oil And Gas
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the sub-heading.
The prime minister must decide whether to approve the Rosebank oilfield and Jackdaw gasfield but will face opposition from backbenchers if he goes ahead
These are the first three paragraphs.
Andy Burnham faces a potential showdown with Labour MPs after suggesting faster extraction of North Sea oil and gas could help pay for the transition to clean energy.
The prime minister is preparing to decide whether to approve the Rosebank oilfield and Jackdaw gasfield after consultations on both projects closed.
Industry sources have told The Times they believe Burnham will approve Jackdaw but may resist calls to go ahead with Rosebank because of opposition from MPs.
These are my thoughts.
My Boiler, Gas And Jackdaw
Consider.
- This year my boiler died. So I spent several thousand pounds, but I did get a new gas boiler with a 12-year guarantee.
- I am now 79, so can this government, or any for that matter, give me a guarantee, that I will live to 91 to get value from my boiler?
- I know enough about heating, as I have installed a couple of systems for myself, to know that my current house is not suitable for a heat pump.
- But it may be suitable for some type of electric data centre boiler like heata, which was invented by British Gas Research. But, I’m not hopeful yet!
- Meanwhile, Centrica have done a large hand-full of deals to keep the country in enough gas to power us through the winter.
- Some of these are MiQ-certified, which is a bit like Organic for methane, except that emissions are kept to a minimum.
- I covered MiQ-certification in What Is MiQ-Certification?.
So provided we don’t get an extreme-left scientifically-incorrect government, led by someone like the lady with pink hair in Hackney, I should be able to keep myself warm in winter.
But would I vote for any party, that was going to cut off my gas supply?
But Centrica have been clever.
- They have plenty of gas storage at Rough.
- Their press releases show they are buying gas according to MiQ.
- Grain LNG Terminal, which they bought last year has an export facility, so any spare gas they have can be exported to a country to replace coal or Russian gas.
- MiQ-certified gas probably fetches a higher price.
- Centrica would be an obvious purchaser for any North Sea gas.
This gives some dates of the players and Jackdaw
- BG Group and Centrica were demerged from British Gas plc in 1997.
- BG Group discovered Jackdaw in 2005.
- BG Group were taken over by Shell in 2015.
If I was the owner of Jackdaw, I would make sure that my gas had the highest MiQ possible.
If I was energy minister, I’d enforce it.
Will Jackdaw Be A Tie-Back To Shearwater?
I’ve read that it might be, so I asked Google AI and received this answer.
Yes, Jackdaw is designed and developed as a 30-kilometer (approx. 18.5 miles) subsea tie-back to the existing Shearwater platform in the central North Sea.
Project Connection Details
Infrastructure: A multi-phase subsea pipeline links the unstaffed Jackdaw wellhead platform directly to the Shearwater hub.
Processing: Hydrocarbons extracted from Jackdaw will be processed and routed through Shearwater before final export onshore to the St Fergus terminal.
Distance: The subsea pipeline spans roughly 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) northwest from the Jackdaw field to the Shearwater installation.
I also found this detailed article on the Chemical Engineer which is entitled Shell To Invest In Shearwater Gas Infrastructure Hub.
Shell certainly seem to be doing comprehensive planning to bring the gas from Jackdaw to the mainland.
- Currently, gas from the Shearwater hub is sent to Bacton in Norfolk.
- After, Jackdaw is connected to Shearwater, the gas will be sent to St. Fergus, which is North of Aberdeen.
- Google AI says that The Shearwater hub is located approximately 140 miles (225 kilometers) east of Aberdeen in the Central North Sea.
It’s probably all in a day’s work for engineers in the North Sea, but it doesn’t sound to be the easiest project to me.
Will The Jackdaw Gas Field Be Used For CO2 Storage?
I felt this could be a possibility, so I asked Google AI, the question and received this answer.
No, the Jackdaw gas field will not be used for CO2 storage.It is an active natural gas extraction project in the North Sea, though CO2 separated from its extracted gas may eventually be routed to external storage.
Field Status and CO2 Handling
Extraction only: The underground reservoirs at Jackdaw contain natural gas and high-pressure/high-temperature hydrocarbons rather than being purposed for carbon storage.
Onshore processing: Gas from the field comes ashore at St Fergus, where carbon dioxide mixed into the raw gas stream is removed during processing.
Broader CCS links: While Jackdaw itself is a producing asset, its operations tie into Shell’s broader involvement with the regional Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage project, which aims to pipe and sequester CO2 elsewhere.
That was a definite no, that Jackdaw will not be used for Carbon Capture and Storage, but the carbon dioxide in the gas may be stored in the Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage project.
Will Centrica Be Applying Just-in-Time-Delivery To Gas Cargoes?
One of the jobs, I was involved in was scheduling container ships for OCL, in the 1970s.
- I’m fairly certain, that ships were speeded up and slowed down, so that ports weren’t overloaded.
- It was all done with my PERT7 project management software, which ran on Time Sharing at Great Portland Street.
I can envisage a clever programmer at Centrica writing a large simulation of all their natural gas deals and calling off gas cargoes, when required.
- Gas tankers would be constantly sailing between the gas fields in the Americas and LNG Terminals like Grain, where the cargo was needed.
- It would be nice to have a local supply of natural gas to fill in the gaps between cargoes, but delaying and speeding up of deliveries would have the same effect.
- I also suspect cargoes could be diverted to Germany, Poland or the highest bidder, when there is a glut of gas.
It could be a classic example of advanced control engineering, but very similar to what OCL were doing fifty years ago.
By applying just-in-time-delivery to gas cargoes, Centrica would reduce the need for storage in the UK.
At least gas doesn’t have a sell-by date!
How Much Liquid Natural Gas Storage Is There At The Grain LNG Terminal?
Google AI gave me this answer to the question in the title of this section.
The Grain LNG terminal on the Isle of Grain in Kent has a total liquid natural gas (LNG) storage capacity of 1.2 million cubic metres (1,200,000 m³) following recent site expansions.
Terminal Storage Overview
Total Capacity: 1.2 million m³ of cryogenic tank space (increased from the original 1.0 million m³ capacity).
Tank Configuration: Consists of massive full-containment cryogenic storage tanks (such as the 190,000 m³ tanks added in phases).
System Throughput: The facility can process up to 15 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), meeting a significant share of the UK’s total gas demand.
It should be remembered that storing gas as liquid reduces the space needed.
What Is The Capacity Of A Typical LNG Carrier?
Google AI gave me this answer to the question in the title of this section.
A typical modern liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier has a cargo capacity of approximately 174,000 cubic meters (m³).
This size has become the conventional standard for new builds, balancing port compatibility with transport scale, though global fleet capacities range widely from small-scale vessels to massive ultra-large ships.
Vessel Size Categories
Small-scale carriers: Hold roughly 1,000 m³ to 40,000 m³, used for regional distribution and bunkering.
Medium-scale carriers: Range from 40,000 m³ to 80,000 m³.
Conventional large carriers: Standard modern designs cluster around 140,000 m³ to 180,000 m³, with 174,000 m³ dominating recent ship orders.
Maxi-size carriers (Q-Flex and Q-Max): Specialized ultra-large vessels reach capacities between 210,000 m³ and 266,000 m³, primarily built to service long-distance routes out of Qatar.
Grain LNG Terminal can hold about four cargoes from the largest LNG Carriers.
My extensive experience of writing scheduling algorithms, which go back to one I wrote at ICI Mond in 1968, feels that by scheduling the arrival of the ships, there may well be enough storage at Grain LNG Terminal to keep the UK in gas.
I wonder, if for some time, Centrica have known, that they don’t need Rough for natural gas storage, which is why they have ambitions to turn it into hydrogen storage.
What Is MiQ-Certification?
This is one for AI
I asked Google AI and received this answer.
MiQ certification is an independent, third-party framework that grades natural gas and oil based on how well operators manage and reduce their methane emissions.Developed by RMI and SYSTEMIQ, the MiQ standard assigns facilities a transparent grade from A through F to help create a market for certified low-emissions gas.
Key Evaluation Pillars
Methane Intensity: Measures the quantity of methane lost relative to the total amount of gas produced.
Company Practices: Evaluates internal corporate policies and operational management procedures.
Monitoring Technology: Checks the deployment and effectiveness of advanced detection and measurement tools.
How the System Works
Independent Auditing: Certified, accredited third-party auditors perform rigorous on-the-ground asset evaluations.
Grading and Issuance: Facilities receive a grade (A-F) determined by their lowest score across the core pillars.
MiQ has a web site.
Centrica And MiQ
In February 2026, I wrote Centrica Energy And Seneca Resources Company Sign First-of-Its-Kind Long-Term MiQ Methane Emissions Certificates Agreement, which was based on a Centrica press release with the same title.
This is the sub-heading of the press release.
Centrica Energy and Seneca Resources Company are proud to announce a groundbreaking agreement, marking the first long-term deal of its kind to support independently verified methane emissions from an MiQ-certified US natural gas producer, helping to underpin reductions over time. This ten-year agreement underscores the commitment of Centrica and Seneca to support global efforts to reduce methane emissions.
It looks to me, that Centrica have put down a marker for the sort of gas deals they would like.
Could MiQ Certification For Methane Be A Bit Like Organic Certification For Food?
Google AI gave this answer to my question.
MiQ certification for methane and organic certification for food share a similar core concept: both are independent, third-party verification systems that audit production standards to provide transparency, market differentiation, and trust for buyers.
How They Are Alike
Independent Auditing: Both systems rely on certified, independent third parties to inspect operations and verify claims rather than trusting self-reporting by producers.
Graded Labels: Organic food uses labels like “100% Organic” or “Made with Organic Ingredients” to show quality levels, while MiQ uses a letter grading scale (from A to F) based on methane intensity, quantification accuracy, and company practices.
Market Incentives: Both create economic value for cleaner practices, allowing producers to market their goods at a premium or meet growing demand from eco-conscious buyers and regulators.
How They Are Different
Core Focus: Organic certification measures a broad set of agricultural practices (avoiding synthetic pesticides, GMOs, or artificial fertilizers), whereas MiQ strictly measures methane emissions intensity and management in oil and gas operations.
Measurement Approach: Organic food rules are largely binary compliance standards (you use or do not use forbidden substances), while MiQ uses continuous or periodic performance metrics to score the precise volume of leaked or vented gas.
Regulatory Role: Organic standards are heavily codified by government bodies (like the USDA or EU rules), whereas MiQ operates as an independent, non-profit standard backed by market adoption rather than direct government mandates.
I think it is a classic case of great minds thinking alike or did MiQ just apply, what they saw was working with Organic food and apply it to methane?
Centrica Energy Agrees 10 Year Gas Supply Deal With Peyto Exploration & Development Corp
The title of this post is the same as that, as this press release from Centrica.
This is the sub-heading.
Centrica Energy has announced the signing of a long-term natural gas purchase agreement with Peyto Exploration & Development Corp., a leading Canadian natural gas producer.
These three paragraphs add more details.
Under the agreement, Peyto will deliver 50,000 MMBtu of natural gas per day to Centrica Energy over a 10-year period from 2029, equivalent to approximately five LNG cargoes annually.
Deliveries will be made at the NIT “AECO” hub operated by TC Energy in Alberta, Canada. The gas will be priced against the Title Transfer Facility (TTF), the benchmark for European gas markets. This agreement supports Centrica Energy’s strategy of strengthening its LNG portfolio through long-term, LNG-linked gas supply arrangements.
By linking feed gas pricing to European benchmarks and maintaining flexibility across global markets, the deal enhances Centrica Energy’s ability to manage market exposure and optimise its LNG portfolio.
It seems a deal that has been structured to avoid risk.
Offshore Wind Could Help Create ‘Electric Shipping Highway’ Across Europe, Study Says
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Offshore wind farms, energy islands, ports and proposed “Offshore Power Zones” could together form the foundation of an integrated maritime energy system capable of supporting large-scale vessel electrification across Northern Europe, according to a study by Maersk’s Stillstrom, Baltic Energy Island and the Port of Roenne.
This is a map from the report.
Note.
- In Investment in Grain LNG, I talked about Centrica and Grain LNG Terminal, Centrica’s plans for the terminal, which include bunkering.
- London Gateway and Immingham are two substantial ports on the East side of England.
Are English ports, except for the notable exception of Felixstowe, not shown on the map, because of Brexit?
These two paragraphs add some detail.
According to the findings, it is estimated that around 37,000 cargo vessels pass Bornholm each year, consuming approximately 3 million tonnes of marine fuel and emitting around 10 million tonnes of CO₂ annually. Full electrification of this traffic is estimated to require about 17 TWh of electricity per year, potentially replacing roughly EUR 2 billion in fossil fuel imports with domestically generated renewable power.
The whitepaper also introduces the concept of Offshore Power Zones (OPZs), developed by Stillstrom, which involves vessels accessing offshore wind-generated electricity at sea for battery charging or hotel loads. The report sees these zones linked with electrified ports to form an “electric shipping highway” stretching from the English Channel through the North Sea into the Baltic Sea.
Note that Bornholm is between Sweden and Germany.
An Extreme Day Out – Bedlington And Northumberland Park Stations
This OpenRailwayMap shows the Northumberland Line and the Eastern part of the Newcastle Metro.
Note.
- The yellow track is the Northumberland Line.
- It terminates in the North at Ashington in the top-left corner of the map.
- Bebington station is indicated by the blue arrow.
- It terminates in the South at Newcastle station.
- The green track is the Newcastle Metro.
- There is now an interchange between the two lines at Northumberland Park station.
In the following sections, I’ll describe my trip.
King’s Cross And Newcastle Return For £66.35
I bought my two long distance tickets on a walk-up basis at King’s Cross and Newcastle stations from the machines.
- I traveled North on a Lumo service to Glasgow for £27.20.
- I did indulge myself with a tea for £2.60.
- I traveled South on an LNER service for £36.55.
- One of the reasons, I buy tickets on a walk-up basis, is that with my uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease, I might decide to cancel at the last minute, so it avoids the hassle of getting refunds.
Both services were within a few minutes of the timetable, although LNER had said they would be late, due to signalling problems.
My Route In Northumberland For £2.60
I bought a return ticket at Newcastle station for Ashington, which is the current terminus of the Northumberland Line.
- I actually didn’t go past Bedlington station, where I turned round and had a drink.
- As there are two trains per hour on the Northumberland Line, waits are not generally not too long.
- I only came back as far as Northumberland Park, where I swapped to the Metro for Newcastle station.
If I had had more time, I would have stopped at Seaton Delaval station to have a gluten-free dinner, which I wrote about in Seaton Delaval Station – 30th March 2025.
From Newcastle to Bedlington Station
I took these pictures going to Bedlington station.
I would have taken more pictures, but the train was rather full.
Bedlington Station And Bedlington
I took these pictures at and around Bedlington station.
Note.
- Although it is a completely rebuilt station, it has a level crossing.
- But is the signal box keeping a watchful eye over trains and the road?
- Bedlington station appears to be step-free using ramps and the level crossing.
- Just to the North of the station, the tracks split to Ashington and Morpeth.
In my forty minutes or so in Bedlington, I didn’t see a terrier.
Are Any Bedlington Terriers Still Bred At Or Near Bedlington?
I had to ask Google AI, this question and I received this reply.
Yes, Bedlington Terriers are still bred in and around their namesake town in Northumberland, UK. While they are a relatively rare breed overall, the historic North East region remains one of the primary strongholds for these distinct “lamb-like” dogs.
Northumberland Park Station
I took these pictures at Northumberland Park station.
Note.
- The Northumberland Line uses a single bi-directional platform on the North side of the station.
- The Newcastle Metro uses an island platform on the South side of the station.
- Both platforms have steps and lifts.
- There are around 400 parking spaces and a Sainsbury’s Superstore at the station.
At 78, after a stroke, I didn’t find the change between the two lines difficult. But I did use the lifts!
What Are The Future Plans For The Northumberland Line?
I couldn’t resist asking Google AI this question and I received this answer.
With the Bedlington and Northumberland Park stations fully operational, the core phase of the Northumberland Line connecting Ashington to Newcastle is complete. Future plans now focus on route extensions, additional stops, and increasing capacity to handle high passenger demand.
Key Future Plans
Extension to the Coast: The North East Combined Authority is actively funding the development of an extension to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, utilizing existing freight tracks. Planning submissions for this expansion are targeted for 2028.
New Station Proposals: Proposals are being explored to build an additional stop serving the Wansbeck General Hospital and to replace the long-closed Choppington station.
Increased Capacity: Operator Northern Rail is in ongoing discussions with transport partners to lengthen train services (which are currently constrained to two to four coaches) to help accommodate massive patronage on the line.
Integrated Ticketing: The Northumberland County Council is exploring integrated ticketing with the Tyne and Wear Metro to allow for seamless travel between the two networks at stations like Northumberland Park.
From my observations on the line over the last few years, I would go along with Google AI’s recommendations.
These are some specific thoughts.
Extension To Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
This OpenRailwayMap shows the tracks that used to exist between Ashington and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.
Note.
- Ashington station is in the South-West corner of the map.
- A freight line exists, which is shown in yellow, all the way to Lynemouth power station, which is a 420 MW biomass power station.
- Lynemouth powerstation was originally built to power an aluminium smelter.
- Running South-East from the Northumberland Line, is a disused railway alignment labelled NBN, which leads into Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.
This Wikipedia section describes the history of railway connection of the town.
Situated on the west side of Front Street (now the B1334), the station opened on 1 March 1872 as a terminus of the Blyth and Tyne Railway (now known as the Northumberland Line). The station had a long island platform onto which the station building faced. There were sidings on both sides of the station which handled goods traffic, controlled by a signal box. The station closed to both passengers and goods traffic on 2 November 1964. With the reopening of the Northumberland Line, Provisions have been made, especially at Ashington so that the line could be extended to Newbiggin. As of the end of 2025, there were calls to extend the railway by 1.6km (1 mile) into the centre of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. This will require new track and is all subject to a feasibility study. A formal bid was launched in December 2025 for this.
In Formal Bid To Extend Railway Line, I wrote about the latest progress in January 2026, based on a BBC article.
The Northumberland Line Needs A Focus Other Than Commuting
Several of the stations have large car-parks, which is good for commuting, but the railway needs to serve more places for leisure and other activities.
- Seaton Delaval Hall is Grade 1 Listed and is just 10 minutes in a bus from the station with the same name.
- If the Northumberland Line is connected to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, that could bring in those, wanting a day by the sea.
- The extended Northumberland Line would also connect to Woodhorn, which is a museum, described in this Wikipedia entry.
QTS are also developing an AI data centre at Cambois, which surely will generate commuter traffic from all over the North East.
This OpenRailwayMap shows the location of the QTS AI Data Centre.
Note.
- Ashington station is indicated by a blue arrow.
- The yellow track is the Northumberland Line, which now terminates at Ashington station.
- Bedlington station is in the South-West corner of the map.
- The trapezoidal grey box to the East of Bedlington is labelled as Site for QTS AI Data Centre.
- As the site, was that of Blyth coal-fired power station, before QTS acquired it, there is a disused railway line that connects the site to the Northumberland Line.
I suspect there are powerful economic arguments about whether or not, the Northumberland Line is extended to the QTS AI Data Centre site.
How Much Power Will QTS Cambois Data Centre Need?
I couldn’t resist asking Google AI this question and I received this answer.
The proposed QTS Cambois data centre in Northumberland is expected to require between 620MW and 720MW of critical IT power capacity, with an initial proposal capacity of up to 1.1GW.
Details on the planned power infrastructure include:
Power Capacity: The facility will support up to 720MW of critical IT capacity across ten planned buildings, though some council estimates cite an expected total power capacity of 620MW.
Backup Power: To guarantee uptime and handle power outages, the campus will rely on nearly 600 diesel-powered generators, requiring up to 58 generators per data hall.
Site Details: Located on the former Blyth Power Station site in Cambois, the £10 billion development will span 540,000 square metres.
My views on this are.
- There is the 1.4 GW North Sea Link from Blyth to Norway, that I wrote about in UK To Norway Sub-Sea Green Power Cable Operational.
- The 4.1 GW Berwick Bank wind farm is planned to send 1.8 GW to Blyth.
- To help if QTS need more power, there is the 1.4 GW Sofia wind farm.
- So 1.1 GW should be manageable, as Blyth is blessed with more power than Niagra Falls.
I also believe that Centrica and Delta have a much better backup solution, that I described in Delta And Centrica Launch Scalable Off-Grid Fuel Cell Power Solution. Hydrogen could come by pipeline or rail.
How Would The Northumberland Line Connect To Wansbeck Hospital?
This Google Map, shows the location of Wansbeck General Hospital with respect to Ashington station.
Note.
- Ashington station in the South-West corner.
- Woodhorn museum is in the North-East corner.
- Wansbeck General Hospital is indicated by a red arrow.
- The Northumberland Line runs East-West to the South of the museum and then curves round to reach the station.
Perhaps the station could go between the museum and the hospital and an innovative shuttle would connect all three locations.
How Would The Northumberland Line Connect To Choppington?
This Google Map, shows the location of Choppington, with respect to Morpeth and Bedlington stations.
Note.
- The orange track on the West side of the map is the East Coast Main Line.
- Morpeth station is in the North-West corner of the map.
- Bedlington station is in the South-East corner of the map.
The Eastern end of the Bedlington and Morpeth Line can be seen in this picture to the left of Bedlington North signal box at the Northern ends of the the platforms.
Note.
- Bedlington North signal box has a communication mast behind it.
- The track to the left of the box goes to Morpeth.
- The track to the right of the box goes to Ashington.
This OpenRailwayMap shows Choppington Road, which crosses the Bedlington and Morpeth Line at the only level crossing between Bedlington station and Hepscott junction.
Note.
- Choppington Road, which runs North-South on the map.
- The yellow tracks are the Morpeth and Bedlington Line, which runs East-West across the map.
- Where they cross, a red cross indicates a level crossing.
- The Wikipedia entry of Choppington station shows a level crossing.
As the level crossing on the map is the only one shown, this must be the location of Choppington station.
Bluefield Solar Income Agrees To PS548 Million Cash Offer From Drax
The title of this post is the same as this article from A J Bell.
These two paragraphs give more details of the deal.
Bluefield Solar Income Fund Ltd on Monday said it had agreed to a £548 million cash offer from Drax Group PLC, which implies an enterprise value of £1.08 billion.
The solar-power focused investment firm has received a bid from Drax Smart Generation Holdco Ltd, which is wholly-owned by Selby, North Yorkshire-based electricity generator Drax. Both firms are members of the FTSE250 index.
I see this deal, to be very much like Centrica’s purchase of the Grain LNG Terminal, which I wrote about in Investment in Grain LNG.
I asked Google AI,”How Do Drax And Centrica Compare Financially?”, and received this answer.
Centrica and Drax have contrasting financial profiles:
Centrica operates on a much larger scale as a diversified retail and energy supply giant, generating £22.4 billion in annual revenue, while Drax is primarily an electricity generator focused on biomass, generating £5.4 billion.
Both companies face challenges from lower global energy prices.
I asked Google AI,”How Do Drax And Centrica Compare On Engineering And Research?”, and received this answer.
Drax and Centrica approach engineering and research from opposite ends of the energy sector: Drax is a mega-scale renewable generator focused on heavy industrial decarbonization, while Centrica focuses on consumer technology, smart energy networks, and servicing.
In addition, now that Centrica has bought the Grain LNG Terminal, Centrica seems to do a lot of LNG trading and storage and they appear to be moving into the bunkering of low-carbon fuels for shipping and have added a second site to Grain, with the acquisition of Severn power station at Newport.
Drax haven’t laid out their plans in detail yet.
These to paragraphs from Drax give a few hints.
Drax sees the purchase supporting growth in the UK renewables market, complementing its existing assets and facilitating £2 billion in incremental investment which Drax has planned for ‘flexible’ energy between 2025 and 2031.
Bluefield generated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of about £130 million in financial 2025, Drax noted, and has the potential ‘to grow Drax’s Ebitda from renewables, offering greater predictability and visibility of cash flows from a large operational portfolio’. This will reduce Drax’s earnings risk from grid connection delays, Drax added.
The last sentence seems to hint, that the deal comes with good connections to the grid, which given what you read about the problems of connecting must be a good thing.
Why Are Drax Building Open Cycle Gas Turbine Power Stations?
I asked Google AI, this question and received this answer.
Drax is building Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) power stations to provide rapid-response, back-up electricity when weather-dependent renewables (like wind and solar) cannot meet grid demand. This flexible generation stabilizes the UK grid, secures energy supplies, and supports the transition to a lower-carbon energy system.
Drax’s strategic move into OCGT is driven by several key factors:
Fast Start Capabilities: OCGT plants act like giant jet engines. They can go from a cold start to full power output in less than 20 minutes, making them ideal for meeting sudden spikes in electricity demand.
Back-up for Intermittent Renewables: Because output from wind and solar fluctuates with the weather, OCGT stations fill the generation gaps, ensuring continuous energy security without relying on older, dirtier coal power.
System Stability (Synchronous Compensation): Drax has equipped its new OCGTs (such as the Hirwaun Power Station) with a special clutch mechanism.
This allows the turbines to disconnect from the generator so the plants can act as “synchronous compensators.” In this mode, they provide crucial grid stabilization services—like inertia and voltage control—without burning gas.
Meeting Capacity Market Needs: These facilities primarily operate only during times of peak stress or low renewable output (e.g., 500 to 1,500 hours a year), providing a cost-effective support mechanism for the wider electricity system.
This Google Map shows Hirwaun Power Station.
Note.
- Hirwaun Power Station is indicated by the red arrow.
- Hirwaun Power Station is a 399 MW Open Cycle Gas Turbine Power Station.
- The A 465 is the Heads of the Valleys Road.
- Solar farms can be seen between the buildings.
Could Drax see commercial advantages to put the two systems together?
Are Centrica Entering The Bunkering Market For Low-Carbon-Fuelled Ships?
I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this answer.
Yes, Centrica is actively entering the low-carbon shipping fuel market, specifically by strengthening its ability to supply bio-LNG (liquefied natural gas) for the shipping industry.
Key developments in 2026 indicate a strategic push into this sector:
Bio-LNG Expansion: Centrica Energy has strengthened its bio-LNG bunker fuel offering through ISCC certification.
Strategic Partnerships: Centrica is supporting Gasrec in the UK to supply bio-LNG and bio-CNG to fleets, and is investing in large-scale carbon storage at Morecambe Bay, which can serve shipping.
Decarbonisation Focus: This move aligns with Centrica’s target to become a net-zero business by 2040 and to support customer emission reductions.
This could be a nice little business.
Gas-Fired Power Still Looks A Safe Bet For Centrica In The Renewables Era
I feel rather surprisingly, the title of this post, is the same as this article on the Guardian.
You’d think, that they would be critical of Centrica for keeping the gas power stations going.
But this is the sub-heading.
There will still be a need to have gas in the wings to keep the lights on, so the financials stack up on Severn plant purchase.
So why should Centrica buy a 832 MW closed cycle gas fired power station?
These posts describe, what Centrica have done at Brigg with another closed cycle gas fired power station.
- Construction Under Way To Double Power Station Capacity At Centrica’s Brigg Energy Park
- Hydrogen Milestone: UK’s First Hydrogen-to-Power Trial At Brigg Energy Park
Will Centrica be taking closed cycle gas fired power stations and making them more efficient to provide the back up to wind farms, when wind is having an off day?
I wouldn’t be surprised, if Centrica put a big battery on the two sites, as after all they are a godparent to Highview Power.
Are there any more closed cycle gas fired power stations, that they can acquire?
I asked, Google AI,”How many closed cycle gas fired power stations are there in the uk?” and received this answer.
As of early 2026, there are approximately 35 active combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power stations—often referred to as closed-cycle—in the UK.
These plants provide the bulk of the UK’s gas-fired capacity, totaling roughly 30-35 GW along with smaller, single-cycle (OCGT) plants which are used for backup.
Total Capacity: The total capacity of all gas-fired generation (CCGT and others) is approximately 35.7 GW.
Role in Power Mix: CCGTs are highly efficient and provide baseload power, while OCGT plants (about 14+ sites) are typically used for peak demand.
Key Locations: Major plants include Pembroke (RWE), Staythorpe (RWE), Didcot B (RWE), and Connah’s Quay (Uniper).
These plants remain the largest single source of electricity generation on the UK grid, though they are increasingly being paired with carbon capture proposals.
I think, that Engineer Baldrick is now working for Centrica and he has a cunning plan to use efficient CCGT power stations to back up the wind.
Consider.
- Severn power station is an 832 MW combined cycle power plant running on natural gas, which is located near Newport in South Wales.
- 4.5 GW of offshore wind is to be built near Port Talbot.
- Will some hydrogen generated by HiiROC be used to part-fire Severn power station and reduce its carbon footprint.
- South Wales can easily find space for a couple of Highview 300 MW/3.2 GWh CRYOBatteries.
- It would be useful to have a good-sized hydrogen store in South Wales.
That mix would surely provide enough reliable power for green steelmaking and a few data centres.
Delta And Centrica Launch Scalable Off-Grid Fuel Cell Power Solution
The title of this post, is the same as that of this news item from Centrica.
The news item is accompanied by this picture.
So who is the happy oriental-looking guy sitting with the equally-happy Robert Booker, who is Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Centrica?
He is Charles Tsai, General Manager of Hydrogen Energy BD at Delta Electronics Inc.
Google AI produces this answer to “Who Are Delta Electronics Inc.”
Delta Electronics, Inc. is a Taiwan-based global leader in power and thermal management solutions, founded in 1971. Renowned as the world’s top provider of switching power supplies and DC brushless fans, they focus on energy-efficient, IoT-based smart solutions for industrial automation, EV charging, data centers, and renewable energy.
Core Business Areas
Power Electronics: A global leader in switching power supplies, thermal management, and components for cloud computing and electric vehicles (EVs).
Automation: Offers industrial and building automation systems to enhance manufacturing efficiency.
Infrastructure: Provides data center infrastructure, EV charging solutions, and telecom power systems.
Key Facts and Highlights
Market Position: Often cited as the world’s largest provider of computer power supplies, with significant market share in server power units.
Sustainability Focus: Dedicated to “innovative, clean and efficient energy solutions” with a strong ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) focus.
Global Presence: Operates manufacturing plants and R&D centers worldwide, including Taiwan, China, Thailand, Mexico, India, and Europe.
Financials: Publicly listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (code: 2308).
Delta Electronics serves industries looking for energy-efficient, AI-ready, and sustainable technology solutions.
Delta Electronics has had an R & D facility in East Kilbride in Scotland for nearly ten years.
This is the sub-heading of Centrica’s news item.
Centrica and Delta Electronics, Inc. today announced an infrastructure partnership to serve the data centre market and energy intensive industries in the UK and Europe, launching with Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) for off-grid energy generation.
These two paragraphs add more detail to the partnership.
This partnership creates a pathway for offering customers competitively priced, on-site power generation, significantly reducing exposure to wholesale electricity market volatility and grid capacity constraints. The partners plan to establish a demonstration site in the UK within the next 12 months, with a medium-term goal of delivering MW-scale, rapidly deployable ‘gas-to-power’ solutions within the next three to five years.
Delta’s SOFCs, licensed by British solid oxide technology leader Ceres, provide stable, low-carbon energy fuelled by natural gas and reach 60% electrical efficiency – significantly higher than the open-cycle gas turbines typically used for on-site and back up generation (35%-42%). These cells are designed to meet the growing power demands of data-intensive digital infrastructure in the UK and Europe which underpin economic growth, digital sovereignty and the energy transition.
This partnership appears to be a partnership of three world-leading companies doing what they do best, to efficiently satisfy the enormous power need for data centres and energy intensive industries.
- Centrica will make sure, that there is enough natural gas. They have a strong reputation for trading gas and source it from all over the world.
- Ceres will provide the Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs), that will efficiently convert this natural gas into electricity. Ceres’s SOFCs are fifty percent more efficient than open-cycle gas turbines, which is a large improvement.
- Delta Elctronics then work their high power electronic wizardry to supply the electricity.
Nothing is said about what happens to all the carbon dioxide. It will certainly be captured and will probably be of food grade, but this could be the next piece of the jigsaw that Centrica are putting together.
The Anonymous Widower 