A £50m investment has been confirmed for a Meirionnydd power station.

Leading green energy group ENGIE has signed a construction contract to support delivery of a £50m programme of refurbishment works at its Ffestiniog Power Station, part of the 2 GW First Hydro pumped storage operation in Snowdonia.

The contract, agreed with German engineering firm Voith Hydro, covers the refurbishment of Units one and two, with an option for the refurbishment of Units three and four at a later date.

Design, planning and component production work are due to start immediately, while work on site is expected to start at the end of 2018.

The refurbishment is due to be completed by early 2020.

Ffestiniog Power Station was commissioned in 1963 and was the UK’s first major pumped storage power facility.

Ffestiniog’s four generating units are capable of achieving a combined output of 360 MW – enough to supply the entire electricity needs of north Wales for several hours.

The announced refurbishment of Units one and two is a mid-life refurbishment, and will ensure the operational life is extended for at least a further 20 years.

The power plant will therefore continue to play a significant role in the UK’s energy mix.

In addition to providing a fast and reliable source of electricity that helps balance the nation’s electricity supply during peak times, flexible sources of power such as Ffestiniog are important for integrating increased renewable capacity so the UK can meet its carbon reduction targets at lowest cost to the consumer.

Wilfrid Petrie, CEO of ENGIE in the UK and Ireland, said: “ENGIE is delighted to announce this investment in Ffestiniog and our partnership with Voith Hydro to deliver this important project."See this week's north editions for the full story, in shops and online on Thursday