Harrogate power station

Last updated

Harrogate power station
Harrogate power station
CountryEngland
LocationHarrogate
Coordinates 54°00′03″N01°33′17″W / 54.00083°N 1.55472°W / 54.00083; -1.55472
StatusDecommissioned
Commission date 1897
Decommission date1960
Owner(s)Harrogate Corporation (1897–1948), British Electricity Authority (1948–55), Central Electricity Authority (1955–57), Central Electricity Generating Board (1958–60)
Operator(s)Harrogate Corporation (1897–1948), British Electricity Authority (1948–55), Central Electricity Authority (1955–57), Central Electricity Generating Board (1958–60)
Thermal power station
Primary fuelCoal
Secondary fuelDiesel oil
Turbine technologyReciprocating engines and steam turbines
Cooling sourceSpray cooling pond
Power generation
Nameplate capacity 15.875 MW
Annual net output 9501 MWh (1946)

Harrogate power station supplied electricity to the town of Harrogate and the surrounding area from 1897 to 1960. The power station was built by the Harrogate Corporation which operated it until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948.

Contents

History

The Harrogate Corporation applied for a Provisional Order under the Electric Lighting Acts  to generate and supply electricity to the town of Harrogate. An Order was granted by the Board of Trade and was confirmed by Parliament through the Electric Lighting Orders Confirmation (No. 1) Act 1891 (54 & 55 Vict. c. xlix). [1]

The power station was built north of the town off Ripon Road Harrogate (54°00’03”N 01°33’17”W); it began to supply electricity on 14 April 1897. The site was adjacent to the Oak Beck which provided make-up water to the station's spray cooling pond. [2]

The Central Electricity Board built the first stages of the National Grid between 1927 and 1933. Harrogate power station were connected to the 132 kV electricity grid. [3] In 1935 Ripon ceded its electricity supply rights to the Harrogate electricity undertaking. [4]

The British electricity supply industry was nationalised in 1948 under the provisions of the Electricity Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo. 6 c. 54). [5] The Harrogate electricity undertaking was abolished, ownership of Harrogate power station was vested in the British Electricity Authority, and subsequently the Central Electricity Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB). [6] At the same time the electricity distribution and sales responsibilities of the Harrogate undertaking were transferred to the North Eastern Electricity Board (NEEB).

Following nationalisation Harrogate power station became part of the Harrogate electricity supply district, covering an area of 192,084 acres (77,734 ha). [2]

Harrogate power station was closed in 1960. [7]

Equipment specification

Plant in 1898

The plant in 1898 comprised Belliss and McLaren engines coupled directly to Ferranti and Siemens alternators. The capacity of the generating plant was 575 kW and the maximum load was 156 kW. [8]

Plant in 1923

By 1923 the plant at Harrogate comprised boilers delivering a total of 50,000 lb/h (6.3 kg/s) of steam to: [9]

In addition there was one 400 kW oil-fired engine driven alternator generating AC

The total generating capacity was 4,150 kW.

Plant in 1954

By 1954 the plant comprised: [2]

The total installed generating capacity was 15.875 MW.

Water cooling was by spray coolers and pond, the circulation capacity was 0.95 million gallons per hour (1.2 m3/s). [2]

Operations

Operating data 1921–23

The electricity supply data for the period 1921–23 was: [9]

Harrogate power station supply data 1921–23
Electricity UseUnitsYear
192119221923
Lighting and domesticMWh1,7811,9542,419
Public lightingMWh9595107
TractionMWh000
PowerMWh482498473
Bulk supplyMWh000
Total useMWh2,3592,5472,999

Electricity Loads on the system were:

Year192119221923
Maximum loadkW1,5961,7601,785
Total connectionskW5,5806,0576,782
Load factorPer cent22.522.224.0

Revenue from the sale of current (in 1923) was £52,102; the surplus of revenue over expenses was £29,420. [9]

Operating data 1946

In 1946 Harrogate power station supplied 9,501 MWh of electricity; the maximum output load was 9,076 kW. [10]

Operating data 1954–60

Operating data for the period 1954–58 was: [2]

Harrogate power station operating data, 1954–58
YearRunning hours,Max output capacity MWElectricity supplied MWh Thermal efficiency per cent
195459682,81612.42
1955100884,88713.18
195671883,45414.06
195769383,04713.45
195894184,26213.98

Harrogate Electricity District

Following nationalisation in 1948 Harrogate power station became part of the Harrogate electricity supply district, covering 192,084 acres (77,734 ha). The number of consumers and electricity sold in the Harrogate district was: [2]

Year195619571958
Number of consumers31,09332,66933,475
Electricity sold MWh88,58995,433104,690

In 1958 the number of units sold to categories of consumers was: [2]

Type of consumerNo. of consumersElectricity sold MWh
Residential27,45960,868
Commercial4,01721,939
Industrial46514,262
Farms1,5086.388
Traction00
Public lighting261,133
Total33,475104,690

See also

Related Research Articles

Southampton Power Station was a coal fired power station built by Southampton Corporation that operated between 1904 and 1977.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Wolverhampton power station, also known as Commercial Road power station, supplied electricity to the Borough of Wolverhampton, England and the surrounding area from 1895 to 1976. It was redeveloped in several stages to meet growing demand for electricity: including the addition of new plant in 1902 to 1908, 1925 and 1942. The power station was initially owned and operated by Wolverhampton Corporation, but was transferred to the West Midlands Joint Electricity Authority in 1928. The British Electricity Authority assumed ownership at nationalisation in 1948. Wolverhampton power station was decommissioned in 1976.

The Newport power stations supplied electricity to the town of Newport and the surrounding area from 1895 to the late 1970s. The original power station was in Llanarth Street which supplied electric lighting; a larger station, known as the East power station, was built in Corporation Road from 1903. They were owned and operated by Newport Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The East power station was redeveloped in the 1920s and 1940s to meet the increased demand for electricity.

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.

Thanet power station, also known as St. Peter's power station, supplied electricity to the towns of Broadstairs and Margate and other locations on the Isle of Thanet, Kent, England from 1901 to 1964. The station was owned and operated by the Isle of Thanet Electric Supply Company Limited until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The coal-fired power station had an ultimate electricity generating capacity of 6 MW.

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.

Folkestone power station supplied electricity to the Borough of Folkestone and the surrounding area from 1898 to 1960. The power station was built by the Folkestone Electricity Supply Company Limited which operated it until the nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948. It was redeveloped in the 1920s to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Southport power station supplied electricity to the town of Southport and the surrounding area from 1894 to the late 1960s. The power station was built by the Southport Corporation which operated it up to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. Birkdale power station was operated by the Birkdale District Electric Supply Company Limited and originally supplied Birkdale Urban District until the district was incorporated into the Borough of Southport in 1911.

Neepsend power station supplied electricity to the City of Sheffield and the surrounding area from 1910 to 1976. The power station was owned and operated by the Sheffield Corporation Electricity Department prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. It was operated in conjunction with Blackburn Meadows and Kelham power stations and was closed in 1976.

Woking power station supplied electricity to the Borough of Woking and the surrounding area from 1890 to 1960. The power station was operated by the Woking Electric Supply Company Limited until the nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948. It was redeveloped after the First World War to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Luton power station supplied electricity to the Borough of Luton and the surrounding area from 1901 to 1969. The power station was operated by the Luton Corporation until the nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948. It was redeveloped after the First World War to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Tunbridge Wells power station supplied electricity to the town of Royal Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area from 1895 to 1968. The power station was built by the Tunbridge Wells Corporation which operated it until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948.

References

  1. "Local Acts 1891". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Garrett, Frederick C., ed. (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-61, A-122, B-170.
  3. "Open Infrastructure Map". openinframap.org. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  4. Hannah, Leslie (1979). Electricity before Nationalisation. London: Macmillan. pp. 247–8. ISBN   0333220862.
  5. "Electricity Act 1947". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  6. Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 45, 60–61. ISBN   085188105X.
  7. Harrogate power station is listed in Garcke’s Manual 1959 but not in the CEGB Annual Report 1961
  8. Garcke, Emile (1898). Manual of Electrical Undertakings 1898-99 vol. 3. London: P. S. King and Son. p. 203.
  9. 1 2 3 Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply – 1920–23. London: HMSO. pp. 38–41, 284–89.
  10. Electricity Commissioners, Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946 HMSO 1947 p.9