GE Vernova has won a contract from First Hydro Company to replace two pumped storage generating units at the Dinorwig pumped storage hydropower station located in North Wales. First Hydro Company is a joint venture between ENGIE and La Caisse. The project represents part of a comprehensive modernization initiative intended to extend the operational lifespan of one of the United Kingdom’s most critical energy storage installations.
The Dinorwig facility has operated for more than four decades and serves a vital function in the nation’s energy infrastructure. The plant can deliver up to 1,320 megawatts of electricity in as little as 12 seconds from standby status, enabling it to support grid stability and facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources across the UK electrical system. First Hydro Company plans to undertake refurbishment work across all six generating units at the facility as part of a broader replacement program.
Under the contract terms, GE Vernova will deliver upgraded motor generators and pump turbines along with restoration of critical embedded components such as the spiral case, stay ring, and draft tube. The company will also provide a new control system and upgraded low-voltage, medium-voltage, and DC power supply systems. The pump turbines were engineered at GE Vernova’s facility in Grenoble, France, while motor generators were designed at its site in Birr, Switzerland. The project has followed successful model testing of the pumped storage units at GE Vernova’s Grenoble laboratory.
Multiple GE Vernova European operations will contribute additional components to the undertaking. These include Variable Frequency Starting Equipment from its Power Conversion business in Germany, a protection system sourced from its Grid Solutions division in Spain, and a generator shaft manufactured by its Gas Power business in Switzerland. The broader program is projected to extend the station’s operational life by at least 25 years.
Through First Hydro Company, ENGIE and La Caisse jointly own and operate both the Dinorwig and Ffestiniog pumped storage stations in North Wales. Together, these two facilities provide 2.1 gigawatts of installed generating capacity, representing approximately 74 percent of the United Kingdom’s total pumped storage hydropower capacity.
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