Wandsworth power station

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Wandsworth power station
Wandsworth power station
CountryEngland
LocationWandsworth London
Coordinates 51°27′40″N00°11′40″W / 51.46111°N 0.19444°W / 51.46111; -0.19444 Coordinates: 51°27′40″N00°11′40″W / 51.46111°N 0.19444°W / 51.46111; -0.19444
StatusDecommissioned and demolished
Commission date 1897
Decommission date1964
Owner(s) County of London Electric Supply Company
(1897–1948)
British Electricity Authority
(1948–1955)
Central Electricity Authority
(1955–1957)
Central Electricity Generating Board
(1958–1964)
Operator(s)As owner
Thermal power station
Primary fuelCoal
Turbine technologySteam turbines
Cooling sourceRiver water
Power generation
Units operational2 x 5 MW and 2 x 6 MW
Make and modelBritish Thomson-Houston, Metropolitan-Vickers
Nameplate capacity 22 MW
Annual net output 21,228 MWh (1946)

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.

Contents

History

The County of London Electric Lighting Company Limited was founded in June 1891, with the intention to supply electricity to areas of north, south and south west London. In 1892 the Company applied for a Provisional Order under the Electric Lighting Acts to generate and supply electricity to the District of Wandsworth Board of Works which encompassed the parishes of Putney, Wandsworth, Tooting Graveney, Streatham and Clapham. [1] This permission was granted by the Board of Trade and was confirmed by Parliament in the Electric Lighting Orders Confirmation (No. 5) Act 1892 (55 & 56 Vict. c. ccxxvii ). [2]

The power station was built in The Causeway Wandsworth (51°27'40"N 0°11'40"W) and first supplied electricity in 1897. [1] In 1893 the Company had altered its name to the County of London and Brush Provincial Electric Lighting Company Limited. By 1903 it was called County of London Electric Supply Company Limited. Other power stations operated by the County of London Company were City Road and later Barking. [1]

Equipment specification

The original plant at Wandsworth power station comprised Brush Universal engines coupled directly to Mordey dynamos. [1] The plant had the capacity to supply 40,000 eight candle-power lamps. In 1897 the station generated 162,151 kWh; 116,821 kWh was sold to customers and there were 13,907 lamps on the circuits. [1] Images of the machinery in 1900 have been produced. [3]

Post-war plant

Following the First World War new plant was installed to meet growing demand for electricity. By 1923 the generating plant comprised: [4]

These machines had a total generating capacity of 27,500 kW of alternating current. [4]

A variety of electricity supplies were available to consumers as:

By 1954 the plant at Wandsworth comprised: [5]

The boilers had a total evaporative capacity of 200,000 lb/h (25.2 kg/s), and supplied steam to:

The completed total installed generating capacity was 22 MW.  

Condenser cooling water was taken from the River Wandle at 1.89 million gallons per hour (2.39 m3/s). [5]

Operations

Under the terms of the Electricity (Supply) Act 1926 (16-17 Geo. 5 c. 51) [6] the Central Electricity Board (CEB) was established in 1926. [7] The CEB identified high efficiency ‘selected’ power stations that would supply electricity most effectively. The CEB also constructed the national grid (1927–33) to connect power stations within a region. Wandsworth power station, in addition to connections with other power stations within the County of London group, was connected via two 66 kV underground circuits to Fulham power station. [8]

In 1946 The maximum output load supplied by Wandsworth power station was 19.160 MW, and 21,228 MWh of current was delivered. [9]

The British electricity supply industry was nationalised in 1948 under the provisions of the Electricity Act 1947 (10-11 Geo. 6 c. 54). [10] The County of London electricity undertaking was abolished, ownership of Wandsworth power station was vested in the British Electricity Authority, and subsequently the Central Electricity Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB). [7] At the same time the electricity distribution and sales responsibilities of the County of London electricity undertaking were transferred to the London Electricity Board (LEB).

Operating data 1954–63

Operating data for the period 1954–63 is shown in the table: [5] [11]

Wandsworth power station operating data, 1954–63
YearRunning hours or load factor (per cent)Max output capacity, MWElectricity supplied, MWh Thermal efficiency, per cent
1954749156,9587.92
1955658133,5307.17
1956402132,8896.90
1957256131,0064.84
1958349133,5857.06
19615.3 %136,0379.62
19625.8 %65,0929.09
196320.13 %1010,5810.83


The data demonstrates the generally less intensive use of the plant over its final operational years.

Closure

Wandsworth power station was decommissioned in 1964. [12] The buildings were subsequently demolished. A 132 kV nation grid substation is still operational to the east of the power station site. [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

Doncaster Power Station

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.

Carlisle power stations were two electricity generating stations that supplied electricity to City of 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).

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.

Hammersmith power station supplied electricity to the London Borough of Hammersmith from 1897 to 1965. It was owned and operated by the Vestry / Borough of Hammersmith until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was frequently redeveloped with new plant over its operational life to meet increased demands for electricity. It was decommissioned in 1965.

Barnes power station supplied electricity to the urban district of Barnes in south west London from 1901 to 1959. It was owned and operated by Barnes District Council until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was decommissioned in 1959 and the building has been reused.

County of London Electric Supply Company

The County of London Electric Supply Company Limited was a British electricity undertaking. It was incorporated as a public company in 1891 to generate and supply electricity to parts of south west London and two parishes adjacent to the City of London. It owned and operated power stations at Wandsworth and City Road. From 1925 it cooperated with three other London companies, with the intention of centralising electricity generation in the new, high thermal efficiency, power station at Barking. The company was abolished in March 1948 upon the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry.

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.

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.

Stafford power station supplied electricity to the town of Stafford, England and the surrounding area from 1895 to 1958. It was owned and operated by Stafford Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped in the 1920s, but after 1935 it was a standby plant used at times of peak demand. Stafford power station was decommissioned in 1958.

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.

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.

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.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Garcke, Emile (1898). Manual of Electrical Undertakings 1898-99 vol. 3. London: P. S. King and Son. pp. 154–160.
  2. "1892 Local Acts of Parliament". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  3. "Wandsworth power station". Grace's Guide to British Industrial History. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  4. 1 2 Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply – 1920–23. London: HMSO. pp. 156–9, 394–9.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Garrett, Frederick C. (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-105, A-137.
  6. "Electricity (Supply) Act 1926". Leegisslation.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  7. 1 2 Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 45, 60, 69, 73. ISBN   085188105X.
  8. Pugh, H. V. (1957). "The Generation of Electricity in the London Area". Proceedings of the Institution of Electrical Engineers. 105 (3): 484–497.
  9. Electricity Commission (1957). Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 7.
  10. "Electricity Act 1947". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  11. CEGB Annual report and Accounts, 1961, 1962 & 1963 London CEGB
  12. Wandsworth power station is not mentioned in CEGB statistical material after 1964
  13. Open Infrastructure Map. "Open Infrastructure Map". Open Infrastructure Map. Retrieved 30 August 2020.