Eggborough Power Station
Encyclopedia
Eggborough Power Station is a large coal-fired power station
in North Yorkshire
, England
, capable of co-firing biomass
. It is siuated on the River Aire
, between the towns of Knottingley
and Snaith
, deriving its name from the nearby village of Eggborough
. The station has a generating capacity of 1,960 megawatts, enough electricity to power 2 million homes, equivalent to the area of Leeds
and Sheffield
.
Opened in 1966 to utilise nearby coal-reserves, the station was built for, and initially operated by, the Central Electricity Generating Board.
The station has a 200 m (656.2 ft) tall chimney.
In 2005 a retrofit turbine upgrade was carried out to increase the station's efficiency and flexibility by improving part-load and two-shift operation.
The station employs around 300 people, as well as contractors.
on privatisation of the industry in 1990.
British Energy
bought Eggborough Power Station, as its only coal-fired power station, in 2000 to provide a more flexible power production facility alongside its nuclear power stations to reduce penalty charge risks from the New Electricity Trading Arrangements
introduced in March 2001. The purchase of Eggborough occurred at the peak of the market for power stations, and in 2002 the value of the station was written down by half.
At the beginning of 2009, Électricité de France
(EDF) purchased British Energy. In August 2009, it became apparent that the station's lenders, including Bluebay Asset Management
, had the option to buy the station the following April, to comply with commitments made to the European Commission
when agreeing the acquisition of British Energy. On 1 April 2010, EDF transferred Eggborough to the plant's bondholders.
Fossil fuel power plant
A fossil-fuel power station is a power station that burns fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas or petroleum to produce electricity. Central station fossil-fuel power plants are designed on a large scale for continuous operation...
in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, capable of co-firing biomass
Biomass
Biomass, as a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms. As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel....
. It is siuated on the River Aire
River Aire
The River Aire is a major river in Yorkshire, England of length . Part of the river is canalised, and is known as the Aire and Calder Navigation....
, between the towns of Knottingley
Knottingley
Knottingley is a town within the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England on the River Aire and the A1 road. It has a population of 13,503....
and Snaith
Snaith
Snaith is a town in the East Riding of Yorkshire local government area of England. It is situated approximately west of Goole on the A1041 road at its junction with the A645 road...
, deriving its name from the nearby village of Eggborough
Eggborough
Eggborough is a village and civil parish of 750 homes, in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England, close to the county borders with South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and the East Riding. The village is situated at the intersection of the A19 and the A645, approximately seven miles east of...
. The station has a generating capacity of 1,960 megawatts, enough electricity to power 2 million homes, equivalent to the area of Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
and Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
.
Opened in 1966 to utilise nearby coal-reserves, the station was built for, and initially operated by, the Central Electricity Generating Board.
History
Eggborough Power Station was built between 1962 and 1970, and first began generating electricity in 1967. The station comprises four 500 megawatt (MW) coal-fired units, giving the station a total electrical output of 1,960 MW. Units 3 and 4 have been installed with Flue Gas Desulphurisation equipment, which reduces the units' emissions of Sulphur Dioxide by around 90%.The station has a 200 m (656.2 ft) tall chimney.
In 2005 a retrofit turbine upgrade was carried out to increase the station's efficiency and flexibility by improving part-load and two-shift operation.
The station employs around 300 people, as well as contractors.
Ownership
The station was built for, and initially operated by, the Central Electricity Generating Board. The station became the property of National PowerNational Power
- History :National Power was formed following the privatisation of the UK electricity market in 1990. In England and Wales the Central Electricity Generating Board, which was responsible for the generation and transmission of electricity was split into three generating companies Powergen, National...
on privatisation of the industry in 1990.
British Energy
British Energy
British Energy was the UK's largest electricity generation company by volume, before being taken over by Électricité de France in 2009. British Energy operated eight former UK state-owned nuclear power stations and one coal fired power station....
bought Eggborough Power Station, as its only coal-fired power station, in 2000 to provide a more flexible power production facility alongside its nuclear power stations to reduce penalty charge risks from the New Electricity Trading Arrangements
New Electricity Trading Arrangements
New Electricity Trading Arrangements is the name of the system under which electricity is traded in the United Kingdom's electricity market .-Overview:The New Electricity Trading Arrangements came into force on 27th March 2001...
introduced in March 2001. The purchase of Eggborough occurred at the peak of the market for power stations, and in 2002 the value of the station was written down by half.
At the beginning of 2009, Électricité de France
Électricité de France
Électricité de France S.A. is the second largest French utility company. Headquartered in Paris, France, with €65.2 billion in revenues in 2010, EDF operates a diverse portfolio of 120,000+ megawatts of generation capacity in Europe, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.EDF is one of...
(EDF) purchased British Energy. In August 2009, it became apparent that the station's lenders, including Bluebay Asset Management
Bluebay Asset Management
BlueBay Asset Management Ltd is one of Europe’s largest managers of fixed income credit and alternative products.-History:BlueBay Asset Management Ltd was founded in 2001...
, had the option to buy the station the following April, to comply with commitments made to the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
when agreeing the acquisition of British Energy. On 1 April 2010, EDF transferred Eggborough to the plant's bondholders.
See also
- Energy use and conservation in the United KingdomEnergy use and conservation in the United KingdomEnergy use in the United Kingdom stood at 3,894.6 kilogrammes of oil equivalent per capita in 2005 compared to a world average of 1,778.0. In 2008, total energy consumed was 9.85 exajoules - around 2% of the estimated 474 EJ worldwide total...
- Energy policy of the United KingdomEnergy policy of the United KingdomThe current energy policy of the United Kingdom is set out in the Energy White Paper of May 2007 and Low Carbon Transition Plan of July 2009, building on previous work including the 2003 Energy White Paper and the Energy Review Report in 2006...
- Drax Power Station
External links
- Eggborough, British Energy