Gas conversion gone

E.ON UK, the company that runs Powergen, has revealed that it hopes to build a completely new Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) plant at its Isle of Grain site and to retain its existing oil-fired station.

The company had applied for permission from the DTI to convert its existing Grain oil-fired power station into a gas-fired station but has now asked for permission to build a modern £350m, 1,200MW gas-fired station on the site instead of going ahead with the conversion.

 “The advantages of building a new station are that we can use state-of-the-art technology to create what will be one of the most efficient power stations in the UK, so reducing emissions," said Dr. Paul Golby, Chief Executive of E.ON UK.

“This proposal could also allow us to have the existing oil-fired station available when both we and UK plc need it, particularly during the winter months over the next few years when supply margins are under pressure.”

E.ON UK has now applied to the DTI for consent to build the new station and has been in consultation with Medway Council and with local stakeholders about its plans.

If built, the station would be able to produce enough power to supply around a million homes. Such new stations are particularly important as European directives and retirements of older conventional and nuclear stations are likely to lead to the closure of around 40% of the UK’s power stations in the next decade.

“This potential investment, together with our plans for a new gas-fired station at Drakelow and for a biomass power station at Lockerbie, shows that we are planning carefully for the future as the UK faces the imminent closure of so many power stations,” added Dr. Golby.

Units 1 and 4 at Grain are currently available for generation this winter, having been returned to service in response to concerns about gas supply and to offer E.ON UK more flexibility in its generation portfolio.