Landivisiau power plant: mission accomplished for GRTgaz
The challenge facing GRTgaz was to provide the gas supply for one of Europe’s largest combined-cycle power plants while strengthening the regional network. Its teams worked for several years on the project to connect the Landivisiau power plant in Brittany, which was commissioned on 31 March 2022. Meeting with the key players in this exceptional project.
The Landivisiau gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in the north of Finistère currently has to provide 446 MW of energy, i.e. the equivalent electrical consumption of a 400,000-person city, or the power of half a nuclear reactor plant.
“Only one transporter has the ability to fuel a machine of this scale. Bringing the gas pipeline right up to the power plant – that was our task,” explain François Gallien and Jean-Luc Mahé, directors of the power plant connection project. The connection involved around 20 km of 40 cm-diameter steel pipes, at a pressure of 67.7 bars. Finalised in 2021, it was quickly engulfed by another project – the strengthening of the regional gas network. “The plant’s consumption needs were too great, and the existing gas network was nearing saturation and not up to the task.” GRTgaz hence built 98 km of additional pipelines over the previous year and renovated the strategic interconnection at Prinquiau (44) to bolster the existing South Brittany network.
“Since December 2021, the strengthening works have benefited all residents of South Brittany, not only the power plant.”François Gallien
Project Director (GRTgaz)
Throughout the project, GRTgaz has kept up an ongoing dialogue to integrate new environmental obligations, react to the unexpected construction of a dairy on the last few kilometres of the route, etc.
“We held long discussions with local farmers, nearby residents and elected representatives to explain what our work involved: bringing pipelines and making the gas network as secure as possible,” recalls François Gallien. It was important to establish long-term trust relations with elected representatives and local residents “as the structures are installed for the long term,” clarifies François Gallien.
The commissioning of the Landivisiau plant on 31 March 2022 was a landmark step for the company. The end of the projects comprising the South Brittany programme was a chance to review all the actions carried out, one of which was the connection of the Landivisiau power plant, via a dedicated webinar in the presence of top management.