BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- InterGen announced today that it has awarded Siemens exclusivity to construct and maintain up to 2.1 gigawatts of gas-fired generation capacity at two sites in the UK, Spalding Energy in Lincolnshire and Gateway Energy Centre in Essex. Both sites adjoin existing InterGen facilities, and offer easy access to gas and transmission networks.

“We have secured a very competitive deal with Siemens representing a unique opportunity” commented Neil H. Smith, InterGen President and CEO.

Mark Somerset, who heads up InterGen’s European business, added: “These are great sites, and the combination of the Siemens offer, low cost access to the networks and proximity to existing InterGen plant will make these plants ultra-competitive. With a firm offer from such a world-class company as Siemens, InterGen stands ready to deliver energy for the UK provided Government delivers Electricity Market Reform which attracts investment and gives our customers and ourselves the confidence we each need.”

The new plants together will cost up to £1bn to construct, and will be the first UK plants to use Siemens’ latest proven “H” technology, offering the highest efficiency in the market and creating 3000 jobs during construction.

Mark added: “My message to Government is to design a Capacity Mechanism which enables independent generators such as InterGen to finance projects such as these. We are at the front of the queue: a bankable design for the Capacity Mechanism will see these projects built, and prove that Electricity Market Reform really does make the difference in attracting new investment. And of course it will bring in much needed competition into UK energy.”

The plants are targeted to come on line by 2018.