Mansim's Project for the World's Largest Gas Peaking Plants is Delivered
- Babak Baghaei
- Nov 12
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 13
The UK’s energy transition reached a major milestone with the energisation of Statera Energy’s 300 MW Thurrock Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), now connected to the National Grid at Tilbury substation in Essex. Capable of storing 600 MWh—enough to power up to 680,000 homes—the Thurrock facility represents the largest battery energy storage installation in the country and a symbolic shift from coal to clean power at the historic Tilbury site.
Alongside the BESS, Statera is also developing the 450 MW Thurrock Flexible Generation plant, a large-scale peaking power station comprising 99 individual generating sets (gensets), each housed in a pre-cast concrete enclosure. This facility will provide rapid-response power to stabilise the grid when renewable generation fluctuates.
Mansim played a key technical role in the Thurrock Flexible Generation project, delivering a comprehensive wind and thermal performance study to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operation across all weather and load conditions.
Using multi-scale Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling, Mansim’s engineers analysed wind effects from regional to site level:
A meso-scale simulation captured the influence of the surrounding towns, villages, and the nearby Thames estuary.
Its results were then used as inputs for a micro-scale CFD model, resolving local wind fields around the individual genset enclosures.
This coupled approach enabled the Mansim team to:
Quantify engine cooling performance under varying wind speeds and directions.
Identify potential de-rating risks linked to restricted airflow or temperature build-up.
Assess environmental and operational impacts of wind interaction with the site layout.
The detailed findings informed design refinements and operational strategies, supporting Statera’s objective of optimising performance while ensuring environmental compliance and longevity of equipment.
By applying its expertise in aerothermal simulation and energy systems modelling, Mansim continues to support pioneering UK projects that accelerate the shift toward a flexible, low-carbon power network.
Comments