Greenhill power station

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Greenhill power station
Greenhill power station
Country England
Location Oldham
Coordinates 53°32′21″N02°06′22″W / 53.53917°N 2.10611°W / 53.53917; -2.10611
StatusDecommissioned and demolished
Commission date 1921
Decommission date1960
Owner(s)Oldham Corporation
(1894–1948)
British Electricity Authority
(1948–1955)
Central Electricity Authority
(1955–1957)
Central Electricity Generating Board
(1958–1960)
Operator(s)As owner
Thermal power station
Primary fuelCoal
Turbine technologySteam turbines
Cooling towers5
Cooling sourceCirculating cooling water
Power generation
Units operational2 x 6.6 MW, 1 x 4 MW
Make and modelMetropolitan-Vickers
Nameplate capacity 17.2 MW
Annual net output 23.12 GWh (1946)
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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 It replaced the older Rhodes Bank generating station and was superseded by Chadderton B power station.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.

Contents

History

In 1890 Oldham 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. 3) Act 1890 (54 & 55 Vict. c. clxxxviii). [1] The power station was built in Gas Street at Rhodes Bank (53°32'24"N 2°06'22"W) [2] and first supplied electricity on 20 March 1894. [3]

Following the First World War the demand for electricity was outpacing the available supply. Oldham Corporation built Greenhill power station adjacent to the railway in Churchill Street East (53°32'21"N 2°06'12"W). [2] Greenhill station was first commissioned in 1921 with further generating sets commissioned in 1923 and 1924. In addition Oldham Corporation built another electricity generating station at Slacks Valley known as Chadderton power station which was first commissioned in November 1929.

Equipment specification

Rhodes Bank plant 1898

The original plant at Rhodes Bank power station comprised Willans engines and Charlesworth Hall and Siemens dynamos. [3] To maintain supplies at times of peak demand Crompton-Howell and EPS accumulators were provided. Electricity supplies commenced on 20 March 1894. In 1898 the generating capacity was 657 kW and the maximum load was 413 kW. By 1898 9,330 yards (8,530 m) of electricity mains had been laid. [3]

Greenhill plant 1923

In 1923 the generating plant at Greenhill power station comprised: [4]

These machines gave a total output of 20,000 kW of alternating current. [4]

A variety of electricity supplies were available to consumers:

Greenhill plant 1954–1958

In 1954 the plant at Greenhill power station comprised: [5]

The boilers had a total evaporative capacity of 145,000 lb/h (18.3 kg/s), steam conditions were 200 psi and 650 °F (13.8 bar, 343 °C), [5] which was supplied to:

The installed capacity was 17.2 MW with an output capacity of 10 MW.

There were also:

Condenser cooling water was cooled in five Premier chimney type cooling towers with a capacity of 1.36 million gallons per hour (1.7 m3/s). [5]

Operations

Rhodes Bank operations 1898

In 1898 and there were 213 customers supplied with a total of 305,859 kWh of electricity plus 16,444 kWh for public lighting. The sale of electricity provided revenue of £5,862 for Oldham Corporation against a generating cost of £1,486. [3]

Greenhill operations 1921–23

The operating data for the period 1921–23 was: [4]

Greenhill power station operating data 1921–23
Electricity UseUnitsYear
192119221923
Lighting and domesticMWh2,8793,1623,823
Public lightingMWh8390166
TractionMWh4,2254,6694,943
PowerMWh11,15314,32520,901
Total useMWh18,34022,24629,832
Load and connected load
Maximum loadkW10,99614,18716,260
Total connectionskW16,55519,98521,387
Load factorPer cent24.322.025.7
Financial
Revenue from sales of current£–166,87529,833
Surplus of revenue over expenses£–52,27194,597

Under the terms of the Electricity (Supply) Act 1926 (16 & 17 Geo. 5 c. 51) [6] the Central Electricity Board (CEB) was established in 1926. [7] The CEB identified high efficiency ‘selected’ power stations that would supply electricity most effectively; Greenhill was designated a selected station. The CEB also constructed the national grid (1927–33) to connect power stations within a region. Oldham Greenhill became part of one of the three grid rings in Lancashire. This local ring connected Oldham, Manchester, Tame Valley and Stockport. [8]

Greenhill operations 1946

Greenhill power station operating data for 1946 is given below, data for Chadderton power station is shown for comparison: [9]

Greenhill and Chadderton power station operating data, 1946
StationLoad factor per centMax output load MWElectricity supplied GWhThermal efficiency per cent
Greenhill27.821,04023.11912.02
Chadderton32.039,95997,91017.14

Nationalisation

The British electricity supply industry was nationalised in 1948 under the provisions of the Electricity Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo. 6 c. 54). [10] The Oldham electricity undertaking was abolished, ownership of Greenhill power station was vested in the British Electricity Authority, and subsequently the Central Electricity Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB). [7] At the same time the electricity distribution and sales responsibilities of the Oldham electricity undertaking were transferred to the North Western Electricity Board (NORWEB).

Greenhill operations 1954–58

Operating data for the period 1954–58 was: [5]

Greenhill power station operating data, 1954–58
YearRunning hoursMax output capacity  MWElectricity supplied GWhThermal efficiency per cent
195427291521.81811.19
195525941518.56611.13
195619771515.87411.528
195725331016.42411.074
195822951012.32710.809

Oldham electricity supply district

The Oldham electricity supply district, covered an area of 29 square miles (75 square kilometres) and included the County Borough of Oldham, the borough of Middleton, and the districts of Chadderton, Crompton, Lees, and Royton. It served a population of 215,800 (1958). The number of consumers and electricity sold was: [5]

Year195619571958
Number of consumers80,34882,00183,476
Electricity sold MWh287,017313,355340,341

In 1958 the number of units sold to categories of consumers was: [5]

Type of consumerNo. of consumersElectricity sold MWh
Residential74,90992,706
Shops, offices, etc.4,13923,306
Combined premises3,08610,407
Factories1,116209,539
Farms2201,109
Public lighting63,274
Total83,476340,341

There were 747 miles (1,202 km) of high voltage mains in the district comprising 728 miles (1,172 km) of underground mains and 19 miles (31 km) of overhead cables. [5]

Closure

Greenhill power station was decommissioned in 1960. [11] The buildings were subsequently demolished although a working substation remains on the site.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chadderton Power Station</span> Series of two coal-fired power stations

Chadderton Power Station refers to a series of two coal-fired power stations, which were situated at Chadderton, Greater Manchester in North West England.

The Percival Lane power station in Runcorn was built and operated by the Mersey Power Company Limited. It comprised two stations A and B commissioned in 1921 and 1941. The station supplied electricity to commercial, industrial and domestic users over a wide area of 95 square miles around the River Mersey including Widnes, Ellesmere Port and Runcorn.

Huddersfield power station supplied electricity to the town of Huddersfield and the wider area from 1893 to 1981. It was owned and operated by Huddersfield Corporation until the nationalisation of the electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times: including the incorporation of new plant in the 1910s, and in the 1930s to 1950s. The station was decommissioned in October 1981.

Lombard Road power station supplied electricity to the Battersea area of South-East London from 1901 to 1972. It was owned and operated by the Borough of Battersea until the nationalisation of the electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times: including the incorporation of new plant in the 1910s and the 1930s. The station was decommissioned in 1972.

The Thornhill power station generated and supplied electricity to the town of Dewsbury and the wider regional area from 1902 to 1982, and again from 1998. The first generating station on the site was owned and operated by the Yorkshire Electric Power Company. Following nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948 Thornhill power station was operated by a succession of state owned bodies. The power station was redeveloped with new plant in 1915, 1925, 1932–37 and 1950–54. The coal-fired steam station was decommissioned in 1982, and was subsequently demolished. A gas turbine power station on the site was commissioned in 1998.

Burton upon Trent power station supplied electricity to the town of Burton upon Trent and the wider area from 1894 to 1976. It was owned and operated by Burton upon Trent 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 1910s, in 1924–28 and 1941–43. The station was decommissioned in October 1976.

Hammersmith power station supplied electricity to the London Borough of Hammersmith from 1897 to 1965. It was owned and operated by the Vestry / Borough of Hammersmith until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was frequently redeveloped with new plant over its operational life to meet increased demands for electricity. It was decommissioned in 1965.

Wandsworth power station supplied electricity to the London district of Wandsworth and to Putney, Tooting Graveney, Streatham and Clapham from 1897 to 1964. It was owned and operated by the County of London Electric Lighting Company Limited until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped during its operational life until it was decommissioned in 1964.

Barrow-in-Furness power station supplied electricity to the town of Barrow-in-Furness and the wider area of Lancashire, England from 1899 to about 1960. It was owned and operated by Barrow-in-Furness Corporation until the nationalisation of the UK electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped throughout its operational life. Barrow-in-Furness Corporation also operated Coniston hydro-electric power station.

The two Coventry power stations supplied electricity to the county borough of Coventry and the wider Warwickshire area from 1895 to 1976. They were owned and operated by Coventry Corporation until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The first power station was established in 1895 off Sandy Lane north of the city centre. A new larger power station was built at Longford / Hawksbury Junction in 1928 and was extended in 1938 and 1941. The Longford station was decommissioned in October 1976.

Halifax power station supplied electricity to the town of Halifax and the wider area from 1894 to the 1960s. It was owned and operated by Halifax Corporation until the nationalisation of the electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times and at its peak had a generating capacity of 48 MW.

Reading power station, Berkshire, England supplied electricity to the town of Reading and the surrounding area from 1895 to the 1960s. It was initially owned and operated by the Reading Electric Supply Company Limited, then from 1933 by the Reading Corporation until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times with new equipment replacing retired plant. The station was decommissioned in the late 1960s.

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.

Colchester power station supplied electricity to the city of Colchester, Essex, England and the surrounding area from 1900 to 1960. It was owned and operated by Colchester Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times incorporating new plant.

Leeds power station, also known as Whitehall Road power station, supplied electricity to the city of Leeds and the surrounding area from 1893 to 1965. It was initially built, owned and operated by the Yorkshire House-to-House Electricity Company Limited. Leeds Corporation took over the electricity undertaking in 1898 and generated and distributed electricity until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times to meet increasing demand for electricity.

Bury power stations are two generating stations that supplied electricity to the town of Bury, Lancashire and the surrounding area from 1896 to 1970. They were owned and operated by Bury Corporation until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power stations were rebuilt several times to replace older plant and to meet an increasing demand for electricity.

Trafford power station supplied electricity to the Trafford and Stretford areas of Greater Manchester, and to the national grid, from 1929 to 1976. The generating station was built by the Stretford and District Electricity Board which it operated until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The 60 megawatt coal-fired station was supplemented in 1952 with an experimental 15 megawatt gas turbine generating set.

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.

St Helens power station supplied electricity to the Borough of St Helens and the surrounding area from 1896 to the late 1960s. The power station was developed by the St Helens Corporation which operated it up to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. It was redeveloped several times to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Wimbledon power station supplied electricity to the Borough of Wimbledon and the surrounding area from 1899 to 1968. The power station was developed by the Wimbledon Corporation which operated it up to 1933. The London and Home Counties Joint Electricity Authority operated the station from 1933 until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. It was redeveloped by the owners several times to meet the increased demand for electricity.

References

  1. ↑ "Local Acts 1890". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Ordnance Survey 25-inch England Lancashire XCVIII.6 (Oldham; Royton) published 1922.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Garcke, Emile (1898). Manual of Electrical Undertakings 1898-99 vol. 3. London: P. S. King and Son. pp. 276–78.
  4. 1 2 3 Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply – 1920–23. London: HMSO. pp. 70–73, 308–313.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Garrett, Frederick (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-58, A-121, B-213.
  6. ↑ "Electricity (Supply) Act 1926". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  7. 1 2 Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 45, 60, 69, 73. ISBN   085188105X.
  8. ↑ Hannah, Leslie (1979). Electricity before Nationalisation. London: Macmillan. p. 121. ISBN   0333220862.
  9. ↑ Electricity Commissioners (1947). Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 12.
  10. ↑ "Electricity Act 1947". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  11. ↑ Greenhill power station is not mentioned in CEGB Annual reports 1961-63
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