Peaker plants

Peaker plants are essential to our rapidly evolving energy systems, driven by the rising electricity demand from growing populations, expanding economies, and advancements in digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI). Data centers, in particular, are expected to contribute significantly to the growth in electricity demand over the next decade, further increasing the need for peak-load power.

Our peaking solutions address the need for dispatchable, flexible and responsive power generation. Siemens Energy’s peaker plants are designed to come online when power is needed most, with fast start-up capabilities and high ramp rates. Utilizing advanced gas turbine technology, they provide the flexibility to match output to demand spikes, ensuring a reliable and sustainable supply of electricity.

A peaker plant, also known as a peaking power plant or simply "peaker," is a type of power plant that operates primarily during periods of high electricity demand. 

Peak load power plants are dispatched alongside baseload and intermediate plants to meet surges in demand or periods of limited supply from renewables. Peakers typically run for fewer than 2,000 hours per year, often only a few hundred hours.

Modern peaker plants are usually simple-cycle gas turbine facilities that burn natural gas or, in some cases, liquid fuels such as diesel or fuel oil, biodiesel incl. HVO100, kerosene and others. Peakers are designed to start up quickly, allowing for high ramp rates and excellent part-load capabilities.

In many energy markets, capacity payments provide additional income for gas peaker plant operators, supplementing energy sales revenues. These payments help cover the costs of maintaining and operating peaking power plants, making their service financially viable.

With the rise of renewable energy sources, the role of peakers has evolved. Traditionally, peaker plants were used to cover predictable periods of peak energy demand. However, as the energy system increasingly incorporates intermittent and non-dispatchable resources like solar and wind, there is a growing need for capacity that can respond on short notice. Renewable energy generation costs are usually low, so these sources are utilized to their maximum capacity. Consequently, fluctuations in supply have a greater impact than changes in demand.

Modern peaker plants now need to follow supply changes to maintain grid balance, rather than just reacting to demand changes. This blurs the distinction between peaking and load-following plants. Today's peaking and load-following plants must operate at varying loads and for longer hours to manage the variability of renewable energy. They require faster response times and often integrate energy storage solutions to provide immediate power while gas turbines ramp up. Additionally, due to longer operation times, low emissions are increasingly important.

Discover advanced peaker plant solutions designed for today's energy needs. Our gas turbines offer quick startups, fast ramp rates, low emissions, and scalable options, ensuring reliable energy and grid stability. Explore the benefits of our high-efficiency peaker plants.

We offer a range of supporting solutions, such as battery storage systems for enhanced load-change response and black-start capability, remote control systems to reduce on-site personnel or autonomous plant operation, and hydrogen-capable turbines for low or zero emissions.

Our plant solutions with an SSS clutch between the generator and the turbine allow the generator to act as a synchronous condenser during plant shutdowns, thereby enhancing grid stability. Our plants are scalable for flexible power management and optimized efficiency. In the case of changing operating regimes, combined cycle upgrades utilize hot exhaust gases for additional power generation. 

Siemens Energy has decades of experience in the design and commissioning of gas turbine power plants for peak load applications.