Lancaster power stations

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Lancaster power stations
Lancaster power stations
CountryUnited Kingdom
LocationLancaster Lancashire
Coordinates 54°04′03″N02°47′19″W / 54.06750°N 2.78861°W / 54.06750; -2.78861
StatusDecommissioned and demolished
Construction began1892, 1915
Commission date 1894, 1916
Decommission date1976
Owner(s)Lancaster Corporation
(1892–1948)
Ministry of Munitions, Cator Road
(1916–1921)
British Electricity Authority
(1948–1955)
Central Electricity Authority
(1955–1957)
Central Electricity Generating Board
(1958–1976)
Operator(s)As owner
Thermal power station
Primary fuelCoal
Turbine technologySteam turbine (and reciprocating engines prior to 1910)
Chimneys1
Cooling towersNone
Cooling sourceriver water
Power generation
Units operational2 × 20.8 MW (largest sets)
Make and modelMetropolitan Vickers
Units decommissionedAll
Nameplate capacity 50.25 MW (1958)
Annual net output 217.15 GWh (1963)
[ edit on Wikidata]

The Lancaster power stations provided electricity to the Lancashire town and city of Lancaster and the surrounding area from 1894 to 1976. The first power station was built and operated by Lancaster Corporation and started generating electricity in April 1894. The second power station was built during the First World War near the Lune Aqueduct to provide electric power for a munitions factory. When the factory closed after the war the power station was purchased by the corporation to provide electric power throughout its supply area.

Contents

History

In 1890 Lancaster Corporation applied for, and the Board of Trade granted, a Provisional Order to generate and supply electricity to the town of Lancaster, Lancashire. This Order was confirmed by Parliament in the Electric Lighting Orders (No. 2) Act 1890 (54 & 55 Vict. c. clxxxvii). [1] The Corporation electricity undertaking constructed a power station with a generating capacity of 240 kW. [2] The generating equipment comprised steam driven Willans engines coupled directly to Brush direct current dynamos. The supply of electricity commenced on 14 April 1894. In the year ending March 1898 the station supplied a total of 147.175 MWh powering 12,256 lamps (each of 8 candle-power). The maximum load on the system was 190 kW. [2] A supply of electricity to the Lancaster tram system commenced in 1903. [3]

In 1912 the cost of coal had increased significantly, Lancaster Corporation claimed it had increased by 25 per cent since 1911, the Corporation investigated the possibility of using hydro-power from the River Lune to generate electricity. [4] Chester Corporation had recently installed a hydro-electric station on the River Dee. In 1923 the plant at Chester comprised 1 × 185 kW and 2 × 225 kW hydro-electric machines. [5] Nothing became of the proposal for Lancaster.

Caton Road station

At the outbreak of the First World War a National Projectile Factory was established off of Caton Road adjacent to the River Lune and the Lune Aqueduct. [6] Construction started in September 1915 and the factory was operational from November 1916. The 33 acre (13.3 hectare) site included an electricity generating station at the east end (54°04'02.6"N 2°47'19.0"W). [7] [8] Cooling water for the steam condensers was abstracted from the River Lune. The munitions factory closed down in 1922 and Lancaster Corporation purchased the power station to increase the electricity supplies to Lancaster. [9]

By 1923 the steam plant at the station had a capacity of 26,000 lb/h (3.28 kg/s) and supplied steam to: [10]

These provided a total generating capacity of 1,550 kW.

The station supplied only direct current (DC) at 460 & 230 Volts. In 1923 the maximum load on the system was 910 kW, and there was a connected load of 3,122 kW. [10] The power was sold to the following users: [10]

Lancaster power electricity sold 1921–3
UserUsage MWh
192119221923
Lighting and domestic346.45340.02406.90
Public lighting66.8058.1065.00
Traction281.75128.00268.34
Power365.31539.76413.07
Total1060.31065.871153.31

Traction current was supplied to the Lancaster tramway system.

The sale of electricity provided an income to the Corporation of £21,747 in 1923. The surplus of revenue over expenses for generating electricity was £6,280. [10]

Low pressure station

The plant installed from the inauguration of the power station in 1916 until 1928 became known as the low pressure (LP) station and comprised: [11]

The power station had three railway sidings off the Settle Junction & Morecambe Line (London Midland and Scottish Railway) for the supply of coal to the station. [7] [12]

National Grid

Under the terms of the Electricity (Supply) Act 1926 [13] (16-17 Geo. 5 c. 51) the Central Electricity Board (CEB) was established. [14] The CEB identified high efficiency ‘selected’ power station that would supply electricity most effectively; Lancaster became a selected station. The CEB also constructed the national grid (1927–33) to connect power stations within a region. Lancaster was a node on the major North–South line from Kilmarnock in Scotland to Carlisle, Lancaster, Stoke-on-Trent, Bristol and Hayle Cornwall. [15] The connection in Lancaster was at a 132 kV grid substation that was built south east of the Caton Road power station. [16]

High pressure station

Demand for electricity increased – nationally from 9,169 GWh in 1930 to 24,263 GWh in 1940 [15] – and a high pressure (HP) station was commissioned at Lancaster power station in 1942 and comprised: [11]

Nationalisation

Upon nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948 under the provisions of the Electricity Act 1947 [17] (10-11 Geo. 6 c. 54), the Lancaster electricity undertaking was abolished, ownership of Lancaster power station was vested in the British Electricity Authority, and subsequently the Central Electricity Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB). At the same time the electricity distribution and sales responsibilities of the Lancaster electricity undertaking were transferred to the North Western Electricity Board (NORWEB). [17]

The total installed plant capacity at Lancaster power station in the mid-1950s was 50.25 MW. [11]

Operating details of the station were as follows: [11] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]

Lancaster power station operations 1954–72
YearRunning hours (or load factor %)Output capacity MWElectricity supplied GWhThermal efficiency %
1946(54.0 %)226.8522.79
1954637349151.8622.29
1955568849133.4622.52
1956508548119.8023.14
195741144792.5222.72
1958459647109.5023.13
196132.6 %47134.2223.31
196237.0 %47152.4223.46
196352.74 %47217.1523.79
1967(45.9 %)46184.9524.05
197231.6 %39108.1623.58

In 1958 the Lancaster electricity district supplied an area of 235 square miles and a population of 104,220. The amount of electricity sold and the number and types of consumers was as follows: [11]

YearElectricity sold, MWhNo. of consumers
1956369,10433,822
1957380,81034,660
1958392,72035,433

In 1958 the above totals were made up of the following: [11]

Type of ConsumerNo. of consumersElectricity sold, MWh
Domestic29,85757,950
Commercial3,94225,859
Combined premises5204,643
Farms9667,626
Industrial138293,912
Public lighting91,416
Public traction11,314
Total35,433392,710

Closure

Lancaster power station closed on 25 October 1976. [23] The buildings were subsequently demolished. The site is now occupied by commercial and industrial units.

The 132 kV substation to the east of the site remains operational. [16] The substation has a 132 kV connection to Heysham Nuclear power station.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doncaster Power Station</span>

Doncaster Power Station refers to two coal-fired electricity generating stations situated in the centre of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. Doncaster A provided electricity to the town from 1900 to 1958, and the B station from 1953 to 1983.

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

Carlisle power stations were two electricity generating stations that supplied electricity to Carlisle and the surrounding area from 1899 until 1980. The first power station (1899–1927) was in the centre of the city near Nelson Bridge, and the second larger station was at Willow Holme North-West of the city (1923–1980).

Stourport power stations were two electricity generating stations that supplied electricity to Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire and to the wider West Midlands area from 1927 to 1984. The two stations, A (1927–78) and B (1950–84), were collocated on a joint site adjacent to the River Severn south of Stourport-on-Severn.

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.

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.

Gravesend power station was built by the Gravesend Corporation in 1902–03 to supply the local demand for electricity for lighting. It was built to the west of the municipal gas works, south east of the basin on the Thames and Medway canal. The power station operated until 1970 the buildings were reused but were demolished in 1995.

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.

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.

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.

Grimsby power station supplied electricity to the town of Grimsby, England and the surrounded area from 1901 to the late 1960s. It was owned and operated by Grimsby Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped in the 1920s and 1930s to meet the increased demand for electricity.

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.

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.

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.

References

  1. ↑ "Chronological Table of Local Acts 1890". legislation.gov.uk. 1890. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  2. 1 2 Garcke, Emile, ed. (1898). Manual of Electrical Undertakings 1898-99 vol. 3. London: P. S. King and Son. pp. 229–31.
  3. ↑ "Lancaster Trams". Tramway badges and buttons. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  4. ↑ "Lancashire Electricity Supply". The Times. 25 September 1912. p. 19.
  5. ↑ Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply – 1920–23. London: HMSO. pp. 22–23.
  6. ↑ Grace's Guide to British Industrial History (31 May 2017). "National Projectile Factories". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  7. 1 2 Britain from Above (1933). "Lancaster Power Station and the Lune Aqueduct, Lancaster, 1933". Britain from Above. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  8. ↑ "Plan of National Projectile Factory, Caton Road, Lancaster circa 1917". kings own museum. 1917. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  9. ↑ Royal Academy of Engineering (May 2016). "Living without electricity: one city's experience of coping with loss of power". Royal Academy of Engineering. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply – 1920–23. London: HMSO. pp. 54–57, 290–295.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Garrett, Frederick C., ed. (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-69, A-125, B-182.
  12. ↑ Ordnance Survey, 25 inch map Lancashire XXX.7 (Halton; Lancaster; Quernmore; Slyne With Hest), Revised: 1938, Published: 1939
  13. ↑ "Electricity Act 1926". legislation.gov.uk. 1926. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  14. ↑ Electricity Council (1987). Electricity Council Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 45, 60. ISBN   085188105X.
  15. 1 2 Hannah, Leslie (1979). Electricity before Nationalisation. London: Macmillan. pp. 119, 428. ISBN   0333220862.
  16. 1 2 Open Infrastructure Map. "Open Infrastructure Map". Open Infrastructure Map. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  17. 1 2 "Electricity Act 1947". legislation.gov.uk. 1947. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  18. ↑ Central Electricity Generating Board, Annual Report and Accounts 1961, CEGB, London, 1961
  19. ↑ Central Electricity Generating Board, Annual Report and Accounts 1962, CEGB, London, 1962
  20. ↑ Central Electricity Generating Board, Annual Report and Accounts 1963, CEGB, London, 1963
  21. ↑ CEGB (1972). CEGB Statistical Yearbook 1972. London: CEGB. p. 17.
  22. ↑ Electricity Commission, Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31st December 1946. London: HMSO, 1947.
  23. ↑ Hansard, Written Answers, 16 January 1984 (volume 52) Coal-fired power stations
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