Aggreko powers up with
Dungeness A
Aggreko, the global leader in temporary power and temperature
control solutions, has provided power generation equipment to a
major nuclear power station decommissioning project.
The Dungeness A facility in Kent, which is operated by Magnox
South Sites, ceased generating electricity at the end of 2006; this
was after more than 40 years of operation, during which it
typically produced 3.2 billion kWh per year. Decommissioning
of the site is currently underway including preparations for the
final defueling of the reactors.
Aggreko specified and installed two 800 kVA generators along
with a bulk fuel tank and an isolating transformer for the
project. The equipment was situated next to newly upgraded
and extended offices on the site perimeter road and supplied power
for the required operations and maintenance work.
The Aggreko equipment was brought in to replace a smaller,
existing generator. It was important that there was no
interruption to the power supply while the new mains feed was
installed. Of particular concern were the harmonics, which
could affect the performance of the IT equipment, so an isolating
transformer was used to protect the supply.
Phil Hales, area sales manager for Aggreko, said: “While
the Dungeness A site is no longer producing electricity for the
region, the decommissioning project is an important one and has to
be carefully monitored and managed. We were brought in to
advise on requirements for the operations and maintenance offices
as well as supply suitable equipment.”
Last year (2008) Aggreko won a three-year contract to supply
power-generation equipment to Magnox North’s site at Wylfa on
Anglesey. This was a renewal of an existing four-year
arrangement for the company and was awarded following a tender
process. Aggreko generators and chillers are being used to
ensure stable and suitable conditions for the service teams to gain
access to perform inspections and carry out maintenance as part of
the station’s statutory outage.
Dungeness A is situated on a 91-hectare site on the Kent
coast. Construction of the power station began in 1960 with
electricity generation commencing in 1965. It was one of 11
Magnox nuclear power stations commissioned in the UK between 1956
and 1971.
Nuclear Power
Plant