Newport power stations

Last updated
Newport power stations
Newport power stations
Country Wales
Location Newport
Coordinates 51°35′11″N02°59′08″W / 51.58639°N 2.98556°W / 51.58639; -2.98556
StatusDecommissioned
Construction began1892
Commission date 1895
Decommission date
  • 1970s
Owner(s)Newport Corporation
(1895–1948)
British Electricity Authority
(1948–1955)
Central Electricity Authority
(1955–1957)
Central Electricity Generating Board
(1958–1972)
Operator(s)as owner
Thermal power station
Primary fuelCoal
Turbine technologySteam turbines
Cooling sourceEstuary water
Power generation
Units operational2 × 30 MW 2 × 10 MW
Make and modelFraser-Chalmers/GEC, Escher Wyss-Brown-Boveri
Nameplate capacity 80 MW
Annual net output 400,000 MWh (1954)
[ edit on Wikidata]

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.

Contents

History

In 1891 Newport 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. 11) Act 1891 (54 & 55 Vict. c. cv). [1] The original power station was built in Llanarth Street, Newport (51°35'12"N 02°59'35"W) [2] and it first supplied electricity on 14 October 1895. [3] Further equipment was added to meet the rising demand for electricity; by the 1920s it had a generating capacity of 600 kW. [4]

A larger power station was built in Corporation Road (51°35'11"N 02°59'08"W) [2] this was known as the East power station, on the east side of the River Usk. This supplied electricity to the Newport Corporation Tramways. The power station was expanded with new generating plant between 1925 and 1929 and again in 1941 and 1948. [5] These additions brought the generating capacity to 80.5 MW. The East power station operated until the late 1970s

Equipment specification

The initial installation of plant at the Llanarth Street site in 1895 comprised horizontal compound engines coupled by ropes to Hall dynamos. The plant had a rating of 350 kW. [3]

The station was supplied with coal via a siding off the nearby dockside railway sidings. [2]

By 1922 the plant at Llanarth Street comprised boilers delivering 28,000 lb/h (3.53 kg/s) of steam to 2 × 300 kW reciprocating engines. [4]

Plant in 1923

By 1923 the generating plant at the East power station comprised: [4]

Coal-fired boilers generating up to 150,000 lb/h (18.9 kg/s) of steam which was supplied to:

Generators:

These machines gave a total generating capacity of 14,750 kW comprising 13,250 kW of alternating current (AC) plus 1,500 kW of direct current (DC). [4]

Electricity supplies to consumers were: [4]

Plant in 1924–48

New plant was commissioned at the East power station in 1925 and 1929 (known as the low pressure plant), and again in 1941 and 1948 (high pressure plant). This comprised: [5]

The boilers supplied steam to:

The station was supplied with coal via a siding off the nearby railway line. [2]

Condenser cooling water was drawn from the tidal river at 5 million gallons per hour (6.31 m3/s). [5]

Operations

Operating data 1898

Operating data for 1898 included:

Operating data 1921–23

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

Newport power station supply data 1921–23
Electricity UseUnitsYear
192119221923
Lighting and domesticMWh2,1362,2762,620
Public lightingMWh604576607
TractionMWh1,7981,6161,792
PowerMWh3,8954,5838,163
Bulk supplyMWh000
Total useMWh8,4329,05213,183

The electricity loads on the system were: [4]

Year192119221923
Maximum loadkW4,7655,0857,840
Total connectionskW17,08622,31123,700
Load factorPer cent28.528.626.3

Revenue from sales of current (in 1923) was £126,084; the surplus of revenue over expenses (1923) was £60,763. [4]

By the late 1930s the supply area was 53 square miles (137 km2) and there were 25,000 consumers. [6] The Corporation tramways ceased operating in September 1937.

Operating data 1946

Newport power station operating data for 1946 is: [7]

Generating capacity MWLoad factor per centMax output load MWElectricity supplied MWhThermal efficiency per cent
58.7547.065.01221,93819.96

The British electricity supply industry was nationalised in 1948 under the provisions of the Electricity Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo. 6 c. 54). [8] The Newport electricity undertaking was abolished, ownership of Newport power station was vested in the British Electricity Authority, and subsequently the Central Electricity Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB). [9] At the same time the electricity distribution and sales responsibilities of the Newport electricity undertaking were transferred to the South Wales Electricity Board (SWEB).

Operating data 1954–72

Operating data for the period 1954–72 was: [5] [10] [11]

Newport power station operating data, 1954–72
YearRunning hours or load factor (per cent)Max output capacity MWElectricity supplied GWhThermal efficiency per cent
Low pressure
195436472233.79911.02
195525301822.94011.73
195623491815.82511.20
19571530189.85910.04
19581040186.3918.47
High pressure
1954858957364.41724.56
1955826357309.14424.50
1956726157286.10224.98
1957631757227.82324.74
1958532357172.66924.02
Total output
196123.4 %75153.47622.01
196215.1 %7599.47818.88
196321.48 %75141.11920.88
196711.1 %7573.0019.03
19725.5 %5727.36814.24

The output from the stations in MWh is shown on the graph.

Newport supply district

Following nationalisation Newport became an electricity supply district, covering 79.2 square miles (205 km2) with a population of 135,160 in 1958. The number of consumers and electricity sold in the Newport district was: [5]

Year195619571958
Number of consumers40,10841,10341,923
Electricity sold MWh381.468385.845420,562

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

Type of consumerNo. of consumersElectricity sold MWh
Domestic37,34553,940
Farms3111,451
Commercial3,86922,556
Industrial393340,515
Public lighting52,100
Traction00
Total41,923420,562

Closure

Newport power station was decommissioned in the late 1970s. [12] Some of the power station buildings were converted for commercial use and the area has been redeveloped with residential and commercial premises.

See also

Related Research Articles

Portsmouth power station supplied electricity to Portsmouth and the surrounding area from 1894 to until 1977. The power station was built and operated by Portsmouth Corporation and started supplying electricity on 6 June 1894. It was located in St Mary Street and was redeveloped several times: including major rebuilds in 1927–29 and in 1938–1952, and expanded into a larger plot. The power station was closed in 1977; the two chimneys were demolished in 1981 and the main buildings in 1982.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Cardiff power stations supplied electricity to the City of Cardiff and the surrounding area from 1894 to about 1970. The original power station was in Riverside; a larger replacement station was built in Roath in the 1902, initially to supply the tramway system. They were both owned and operated by Cardiff Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The Roath power station was redeveloped in the 1920s and 1940s to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Llanelly power station, also known as North Dock power station, supplied electricity to the town of Llanelly and the surrounding area from 1910 to the late 1960s. The power station was owned and operated by a succession of companies, including the Llanelly and District Electric Supply Company Limited, prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped in the 1920s 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.

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.

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.

Uxbridge power station supplied electricity to the District of Uxbridge and the surrounding area from 1902 to 1962. The power station was built by the Uxbridge and District Electric Supply Company Limited which operated it until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948.

References

  1. ↑ "Local Acts 1891". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ordnance Survey 25 inch England and Wales Monmouthshire XXVIII.16 (Betws; Newport), revised 1917, published 1920
  3. 1 2 3 4 Garcke, Emile (1898). Manual of Electrical Undertakings 1898-99 vol. 3. London: P. S. King and Son. pp. 260–263.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply – 1920–23. London: HMSO. pp. 66–69, 302–07.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Garrett, Frederick (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-79–80 A-128 B-207.
  6. ↑ Grace’s guide to British Industrial history. "Grace's guide to British Industrial history Newport Corporation East Power Station". Grace’s guide to British Industrial history. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  7. ↑ Electricity Commissioners (1947). Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 12.
  8. ↑ "Electricity Act 1947". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  9. ↑ Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 45, 60, 69, 73. ISBN   085188105X.
  10. ↑ CEGB Annual report and Accounts, 1961, 1962 & 1963
  11. ↑ CEGB Statistical Yearbook, 1967 & 1972
  12. ↑ Newport station is listed in the CEGB Statistical yearbook 1972 but not in the 1978 edition
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.