Nechells power stations

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Nechells power stations
Target Dossier for Birmingham, Warwickshire, England - DPLA - 91a244b3e8fc97b835c6e743e01fff0e (page 1).jpg
1939 target dossier of the German Luftwaffe for Nechells Power Station & surrounding area (Nechells is marked with the circled "C")
Nechells power stations
CountryUnited Kingdom
LocationBirmingham
Coordinates 52°30′20″N01°51′20″W / 52.50556°N 1.85556°W / 52.50556; -1.85556
StatusDemolished
Commission date Temporary 1914; A station 1922; B station 1951
Decommission dateA 1969; B 1982
Operator(s)Birmingham Corporation; BEA; CEA; CEGB
Thermal power station
Primary fuelCoal
Turbine technologySteam generation
Cooling towersA: 35; B: 4
Cooling sourceCooling towers
Power generation
Units operationalTemporary 2 x 5 MW & 2 x 6 MW; A station 6 x 18.75 MW & 2 x 1.875 MW; B station 4 x 52.5 MW
Make and modelBT-H, GEC, Parsons
Nameplate capacity A 117.75 MW; B 200 MW
Annual net output See tables
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Nechells power stations were three coal-fired electricity generating stations in Nechells that supplied electricity to Birmingham and the surrounding area from 1915 to 1982.

Contents

History

Birmingham had been supplied with electricity from several local generating stations. These included Dale End, 1.5 MW (1891); Water Street, 3.5 MW (1895); Aston Manor, 7 MW, (1903); Handsworth, 1.05 MW (1905); and Summer Lane, 36.5 MW (1906). [1] The growth of demand for electricity meant that increasing generating capacity was needed. A large power station at Nechells was identified in 1912 as being necessary to meet current and future demand. [1]

At the start of the First World War the Birmingham Corporation together with Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company proposed to build two large power stations one at Nechells (2 × 15 MW alternators) and one at Stourport (3 × 15 MW machines) to meet their needs. However, the estimated cost of £2.75 million was too much and the government refused to support the proposal. [2]

Nechells Temporary station

The 1914-18 war created an additional significant demand for electricity. The City of Birmingham Electricity Supply Department decided that a temporary power station should be constructed at Nechells rather than to wait for the large power station to be built and commissioned. The temporary station was completed in 1915. [1] The station was owned and operated by the City of Birmingham Electricity Supply Department.

The plant comprised: [3]

The total electricity output capacity was 22.0 MW. [3] The temporary station was decommissioned and demolished in the late 1920s.

Nechells A (Prince's station)

Construction started in 1919 on a 23-acre (9.3 ha) site adjoining the temporary power station and commercial operation began in 1922. [4] It was inaugurated by the Prince of Wales on 13 June 1923. The Prince started up no.1 turbo-alternator, unveiled a bronze plaque commemorating his visit and was presented with a model of the generator. [5] The A station was owned and operated by the City of Birmingham Electricity Supply Department. Following nationalisation of the electricity generation, transmission and supply industry in 1948 ownership was transferred to the British Electricity Authority (1948-55), followed by the Central Electricity Authority (1955-58) and finally to the Central Electricity Generating Board (1958-69).

The plant at the A station comprised: [6]

The station was commissioned in phases as the generating machines were available, these were in July 1922, November 1922, June 1924, March 1925, September 1925, and May 1927. [6]  Turbo-alternators 5 and 6 were supplied with steam from the B station. [6]

The output of the A station over the period 1946-69 was: [6] [7] [8]

Nechells A power station output
YearElectricity supplied (GWh)Maximum capacity (MW)
194684.7890.90
1947104.094.2
194892.4992
1950103.9793
195429.6275
195537.6275
195626.87100
195725.71100
19581.72100
19614.2574
196224.1174
196310.8174

The A station was closed in 1969.

Nechells B

Nechells B was approved by the Central Electricity Board in 1945. It was built adjacent to the A station. The B station was owned and operated by the British Electricity Authority (1948-55), the Central Electricity Authority (1955-58) and finally to the Central Electricity Generating Board (1958-82). [6] [7]

The plant comprised: [7]

The station opened in stages: June 1951, December 1951, November 1952 and September 1953.

The output of the station over the period 1954 to 1982 was: [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

Nechells B power station output
YearElectricity supplied (GWh)Maximum capacity (MW)
19541021200
19551175200
19561097200
19571008200
1958917200
1961796212
1962764212
1963741212
1972456212
1979219212
198255.0212

The B station closed on 1 November 1982. It was subsequently demolished.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 D.G. Tucker, Electricity generating stations for public supply in the West Midlands 1888-1977 (1977).
  2. ↑ Hannah, Leslie (1979). Electricity before Nationalisation. London: Macmillan. p. 58. ISBN   0333220862.
  3. 1 2 Electricity Commission (1925). Electricity Supply 1920-23. London: HMSO. p. 10.
  4. ↑ "The electrical giant of Nechells" . Birmingham Gazette . 14 July 1922. p. 10. Retrieved 11 May 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ↑ "Prince's day in Birmingham: New power station opened" . Birmingham Evening Despatch . No. 9990. 12 June 1923. p. Front. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Garrett, F. C. (1951). Garckes Manual of Electricity Supply, vol 48,. London: Electrical Press Limited. pp. A83-4 A-135.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Garrett, F. C. (1959). Garckes Manual of Electricity Supply, vol 56,. London: Electrical Press Limited. pp. A-78 A-128.
  8. 1 2 CEGB, Power station Operating Results 1961 to 1963
  9. ↑ CEGB (1972). Statistical Yearbook 1972. London: CEGB.
  10. ↑ CEGB (1979). CEGB Statistical Yearbook 1978-79. London: CEGB.
  11. ↑ CEGB (1982). CEGB Statistical Yearbook 1981-82. London: CEGB.
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