Sutton Coldfield power station

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Sutton Coldfield power station
Sutton Coldfield power station
Country England
LocationSutton Coldfield
Coordinates 52°33′46″N01°48′58″W / 52.56278°N 1.81611°W / 52.56278; -1.81611 Coordinates: 52°33′46″N01°48′58″W / 52.56278°N 1.81611°W / 52.56278; -1.81611
StatusDecommissioned
Construction began1899
Commission date 1901
Decommission date1959
Owner(s)Sutton Coldfield Corporation
(1899–1948)
British Electricity Authority
(1948–1955)
Central Electricity Authority
(1955–1957)
Central Electricity Generating Board
(1958–1959)
Operator(s)As owner
Thermal power station
Primary fuelCoal
Turbine technologySteam and reciprocating engines
Chimneys1 (150 feet)
Power generation
Units operational1 x 150 kW, 1 x 275 kW, 1 x 450 kW
Nameplate capacity 1 MW
Annual net output 3,277 MWh (1946)
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Sutton Coldfield power station supplied electricity to the town of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham (then part of Warwickshire) from 1901 to 1959. The electricity generating station was owned and operated by Sutton Coldfield Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948. It was closed in 1959 when it had a generating capacity of 1.0 MW.

Contents

History

In 1899 Sutton Coldfield 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. 1) Act 1899 (62 & 63 Vict. c. xxxiv). [1] The Corporation bought for £650 the old gas works site, at the intersection of Coleshill Road and Riland Road, Sutton Coldfield (52°33'46"N 1°48'58"W), [2] and built a power station which first supplied electricity to the town in 1901. [3] The initial system had a generating capacity of 350 kW and supplied 12 arc lights and 108 incandescent bulbs and was capable of supplying 10,000 private lamps. [3]

Sutton Coldfield Corporation owned the power station and electricity supply system until nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948. [4] Under nationalisation the Sutton Coldfield electricity undertaking was abolished, ownership of the power station was vested in the British Electricity Authority, and subsequently the Central Electricity Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB). [5] At the same time the electricity distribution and sales responsibilities of the Sutton Coldfield electricity undertaking were transferred to the Midlands Electricity Board (MEB).

The power station continued to operate for a decade after nationalisation until it was closed in 1959. [6]

Technical specification

By 1923 the generating plant comprised: [7]

These machines had a total generating capacity of 875 kW. [7]

Electricity supplies were available to consumers at 480 and 240 Volts DC

Operations

The end use of electricity over the period 1921–23 was: [7]

Sutton Coldfield electricity use 1921–23
Electricity UseUnitsYear
192119221923
Lighting and domesticMWh507487545
Public lightingMWh153153159
TractionMWh000
PowerMWh352329355
Bulk supplyMWh000
Total useMWh1,0129701,059

The operating parameters of the electricity system were: [7]

Sutton Coldfield electricity system 1921–23
OperatingUnitsYear
192119221923
Maximum loadkW603629683
Total connectionskW2,4402,5742,772
Load factorPer cent23.321.521.5

Revenue from sales of current was £19,610 (1922) and £19,977 (1923). The surplus of revenue over expenses £6,467 (1922) and £9,401 (1923). [7]

In 1946 the station generated 3,277 MWh, an adjacent waste destructor generated 228 MWh. The combined output from both stations was 3451MWh. The maximum load sent out that year was 1071 MW, and the load factor was 39.5 per cent. [8]

The power station building still exists and has been redeveloped with commercial premises.

See also

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Guildford power station supplied electricity to the town of Guildford and the surrounding area from 1896 to 1967. The power station was built and operated by the Guildford Electricity Supply Company Limited. In 1921 it was acquired by the Guildford Corporation which operated it until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948.

References

  1. ↑ "Local Acts 1899". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ Ordnance Survey 6- inch England. Staffordshire LXIV (includes: Shenstone; Sutton Coldfield.), revised 1912 to 1913, published 1920.
  3. 1 2 Howells, Alan. "Electricity comes to Sutton Coldfield" (PDF). Retrieved 18 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ "Electricity Act 1947". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ↑ Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 17, 45, 60, 69, 73. ISBN   085188105X.
  6. ↑ Garrett, Frederick (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-99.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply – 1920–23. London: HMSO. pp. 90–93, 320–325.
  8. ↑ Electricity Commissioners (1947). Electricity Commissioners Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 14.
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