Aberystwyth power station

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Aberystwyth power station
Aberystwyth power station
CountryWales
LocationAberystwyth
Coordinates 52°24′45″N04°05′03″W / 52.41250°N 4.08417°W / 52.41250; -4.08417
StatusDecommissioned
Commission date 1895
Owner(s)Bourne & Grant Electricity Supply Company Limited, and successors
(1893–1936)
Aberystwyth Corporation
(1936–1948)
British Electricity Authority
(1948–1955)
Central Electricity Authority
(1955–1957)
Central Electricity Generating Board
(1958–1975)
Operator(s)As owner
Thermal power station
Primary fuelFuel oil
Power generation
Units operational8 x Diesel engine sets
Make and modelEnglish Electric, General Motors
Nameplate capacity 4.92 kW
Annual net output 12.76 GWh (1956)
[ edit on Wikidata]

Aberystwyth power station supplied electricity to the town of Aberystwyth from 1895 to the 1970s. The oil-engine station was operated by a succession of private and public owners including Aberystwyth Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the electricity industry in 1948. The power station, with an ultimate capacity of 5 MW, was redeveloped as demand for electricity grew and old plant was replaced.

Contents

History

In 1892 Aberystwyth Corporation applied for a Provisional Order under the Electric Lighting Acts to generate and supply electricity to the town. This was granted by the Board of Trade and was confirmed by Parliament through the Electric Lighting Orders Confirmation (No. 2) Act 1892 (55 & 56 Vict. c. xxxvii). [1]

The following year the Provisional Order was transferred to the Bourne & Grant Electricity Supply Company Limited. The Company, which was registered 13 May 1893, built a power station in Mill Street Aberystwyth (52°24'45"N 4°05'03"W) and first supplied electricity to the town in August 1895. [2] The company was renamed the Aberystwyth & Chiswick Electric Supply Corporation Limited as the company also supplied electricity to the Chiswick district in west London, [3] although the two systems were not interconnected. By 1904 the company name changed to the ChiswickElectric Supply Corporation Limited but it continued to develop electricity supplies in Aberystwyth. [4]

The Central Electricity Board constructed the national grid (1927–33) to connect power stations within a region. [5] However, Aberystwyth was remote from the grid and continued to run independently. The Chiswick Corporation noted that of all the fuel oil stations in the country of similar output the Aberystwyth station was ranked fourth in terms of thermal efficiency. [6]

Aberystwyth Corporation took over the operation of the electricity undertaking in 1936. [4] The Corporation continued as the owner of the power station and supply system until nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. [7] The Aberystwyth electricity undertaking was abolished, ownership of Aberystwyth power station was vested in the British Electricity Authority, and subsequently the Central Electricity Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB). [5] At the same time the electricity distribution and sales responsibilities of the Aberystwyth electricity undertaking were transferred to the Merseyside & North Wales Electricity Board (MANWEB).

Equipment specification

The original plant at Aberystwyth power station comprised Browett-Lindley oil engines coupled by ropes and belts to Johnson & Phillips’ generators. In 1898 the maximum load was 74 kW. [2]

Plant in 1923

By 1923 the generating plant comprised: [8]

Generators:

These machines gave a total generating capacity of 470 kW of direct current. [8]

Electricity supplies to consumers were at 440 & 220 Volt DC.

Plant in 1958

The plant in 1958 comprised: [9]

The total installed generating capacity was 4.92 MW, with an output capacity of 5 MW. [9]

Operations

In 1897 the maximum electricity demand was 74 kW, and the station supplied 46,033 kWh. [2]

Operating data 1921–23

The operating data for the period 1921–23 was: [8]

Aberystwyth power station operating data 1921–23
Electricity UseUnitsYear
192119221923
Lighting and domesticMWh128.5152.0193.6
Public lightingMWh19.419.720.1
TractionMWh000
PowerMWh31.549.659.0
Total useMWh179.4221.3272.6
Load and connected load
Maximum loadkW174230251
Total connectionskW8809871094
Load factorPer cent15.814.616.1
Financial
Revenue from sales of current£–6,3757,854
Surplus of revenue over expenses£–2,9644,021

Operating data 1946

Aberystwyth power station operating data for 1946 was: [10]

Aberystwyth power station operating data, 1946
YearLoad factor per centMax output load MWElectricity supplied MWhThermal efficiency per cent
194632.213733,87730.87

Operating data 1954–72

Operating data for the period 1954–72 was: [9] [11] [12]

Aberystwyth power station operating data, 1954–72
YearRunning hours or load factor (per cent)Max output capacity MWElectricity supplied MWhThermal efficiency per cent
195487604.9211,03625.6
195587604.9212,41328.8
195687604.9212,76029.5
195787604.9211,74527.3
195887604.9212,23128.4
1961(21.8 %)4.929,37431.7
1962(21.1 %)4.929,08932.81
1963(17.98 %)4.927,87532.3
1967(42.2 %)28,23432.60
1972(21.2 %)2.03,2571.42

Aberystwyth Electricity Supply District

Aberystwyth was an electricity supply district in the Merseyside & North Wales Electricity Board. [9] It supplied an area of 606 square miles (1570 km2) and a population of 40,000. It comprised the Borough of Aberystwyth and the districts of Dolgelley, Machynlleth and Towyn. Electricity supplies were: [9]

YearElectricity sold MWhNo. of consumers
195621,287–
195724,14311,724
195827,47012,396

Closure

Aberystwyth power station was decommissioned in the 1970s. [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Lister Drive power station was a series of generating stations that supplied electricity to the City of Liverpool and the wider area from 1900 until 1980. They were owned and collaboratively operated by Liverpool Corporation and Marcus Kemp Coal Limited until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was developed in several phases: designated No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 stations. A gas turbine station was commissioned in March 1965.

Fleetwood power stations were two generating stations that supplied electricity to the town of Fleetwood, England and the surrounding area from 1900 to 1981. The first station was owned by the Fleetwood and District Electric Light and Power Syndicate and later by Fleetwood Urban District Council. The second station was owned and operated by the state following the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948; this power station was decommissioned in October 1981.

Wallasey power station supplied electricity to the town of Wallasey and the surrounding area from 1897. It was owned and operated by Wallasey Corporation until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times: including the incorporation of new plant in the 1920s and 1950. The station was decommissioned in the late 1960s.

South Shields power station supplied electricity to the borough of South Shields and the surrounding area from 1896 to 1958. It was owned and operated by South Shields Corporation until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times to meet increasing demand It was decommissioned in 1958.

Greenhill power station supplied electricity to the town of Oldham, England and the surrounding area from 1921 to 1960. It replaced the older Rhodes Bank generating station and was superseded by Chadderton B power station. Greenhill power station was owned and operated by Oldham Corporation until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was built over the period 1921–24 and was decommissioned in 1960.

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Nelson power station supplied electricity to the town of Nelson, Lancashire and the surrounding area from 1892 to 1960. The power station was owned and operated by Nelson Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. It was redeveloped in 1922 to 1925 to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Stockport power station supplied electricity to the town of Stockport, Cheshire and the surrounding area from 1899 to 1976. The power station was owned and operated by Stockport Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. It was redeveloped several times to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Warrington power station supplied electricity to the town of Warrington, Lancashire and the surrounding area from about 1900 to 1979. The power station was initially developed by the Warrington and District Electric Light and Power Company Limited, this was taken over by Warrington Corporation, which operated the power station prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. It was redeveloped several times to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Newbury power station supplied electricity to the town of Newbury, Berkshire and the surrounding area from 1905 to 1970. It was owned and operated by a succession of public and private organisations. It comprised, at various times, hydro-electric, gas engine and diesel engine powered plant with a maximum output capacity of 2.57 MW.

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Guildford power station supplied electricity to the town of Guildford and the surrounding area from 1896 to 1967. The power station was built and operated by the Guildford Electricity Supply Company Limited. In 1921 it was acquired by the Guildford Corporation which operated it until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948.

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References

  1. ↑ "Local Acts 1892". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Garcke, Emile (1898). Manual of Electrical Undertakings 1898-99 vol. 3. London: P. S. King and Son. pp. 114–115.
  3. ↑ "London area power supply" (PDF). metadyne. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Aberystwyth power station". pilgrim.ceredigion.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  5. 1 2 Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 45, 60, 69, 73. ISBN   085188105X.
  6. ↑ "Chiswick Electricity Supply Corporation". The Times. 1 March 1934. p. 24.
  7. ↑ "Electricity Act 1947". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply – 1920–23. London: HMSO. pp. 228–31, 514–19.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Garrett, Frederick C. (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-26, A-140, B-125.
  10. ↑ Electricity Commissioners (1947). Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 9.
  11. ↑ CEGB Annual report and Accounts, 1961, 1962 & 1963
  12. ↑ CEGB Statistical Yearbook 1967 and 1972
  13. ↑ Aberystwyth power station is in the CEGB Statistical Yearbook 1972 but not in the 1978-9 edition
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