Capula awarded major project by Drax Power

Capula, part of the Imtech Group, has been awarded a multi-million pound contract from Drax Power to replace the control systems on three of their 660MW biomass fired power generating units. Drax Power station in North Yorkshire is one of the UK’s largest producers of renewable energy and Europe’s single largest decarbonisation project. The project will see Capula replace the core process control systems responsible for the plant’s key functions including the combustion and temperature control functions, and the feedwater, turbine, generator and ancillary plant areas on units 1, 2 and 3.

For this project, Capula will replace the obsolete APACS equipment with modern Schneider based control technologies as well as undertake the conversion and testing of the control system software. The new fully integrated control system architecture will be future-proofed and fully supportable, allowing Drax to continue operating efficiently and reliably throughout the life of the plant. Additionally, our expert engineers will seamlessly integrate two other control system projects that we are delivering simultaneously on the plant’s unit 1.

Capula originally installed the control systems on each of the three generating units nearly 20 years ago and since then has performed many modifications and enhancements to meet the evolving needs of the business, including the conversion of the units from coal to biomass renewable fuels.

“Capula is well placed to deliver this significant project as we have installed the majority of control systems at Drax and consistently ensure the prompt return to service of our client’s most valuable assets” said Mark Hardy, Capula’s Managing Director. “We are pleased to continue our long working relationship by contributing to Drax’s energy vision and supporting its commitment to deliver renewable forms of energy, a key focus area for the UK’s energy strategy.”