Eggborough power station
Eggborough Power Station
Viewed from the south in February 2007
CountryEngland
LocationKnottingley
Coordinates53°42′42″N 1°07′37″W / 53.7116°N 1.1269°W / 53.7116; -1.1269
StatusDecommissioned and Demolished
Construction began1962
Commission date1967–70
Decommission date2018
Owner(s)St Francis Group[1]
Operator(s)Central Electricity Generating Board
(1967—1990)
National Power
(1990—2000)
British Energy
(2000—2010)
Eggborough Power Ltd.
(2010—2018)
Thermal power station
Primary fuelCoal
Secondary fuelFuel oil (gas turbines)
Site area400 acres (162 ha)
Cooling towers8
Power generation
Units operational4 × 500 MW
Nameplate capacity1,960 MW
External links
Websitewww.eggboroughpower.co.uk
CommonsRelated media on Commons

grid reference SE 576 242

Eggborough power station was a coal-fired power station in North Yorkshire, England, which was capable of co-firing biomass. It was situated on the River Aire, between the towns of Knottingley and Snaith, deriving its name from the nearby village of Eggborough. The station had a generating capacity of 1,960 megawatts, enough electricity to power 2 million homes, equivalent to the area of Leeds and Sheffield.[2]

The station began generating power in 1967,[3][4] making use of nearby coal reserves. It was built for, and initially operated by the Central Electricity Generating Board. The station closed in September 2018 and demolition works began in 2020, with the eight cooling towers being the first to come down in 2021.[5] The Bunker Bay was demolished on 6 March 2022, the DA Bay on 1 June 2022 and the chimney and boiler house on 24 July 2022. There are plans to replace it with a 2,500 megawatt gas power plant.[6]

History

Eggborough Power Station

Construction

Eggborough power station was first proposed alongside Ferrybridge "C" power station in April 1961.[7] Construction was authorised in early 1962,[8] which included the demolition of Sherwood Hall.[9] The architect was George Hooper of Sir Percy Thomas & Son. Large expanses of aluminium cladding and dark glazing were intended to give 'a cool and defining architectural expression that subtly contrasted with the warm concrete towers and the black-capped chimney'.[10] Construction of the station was completed in 1967.[7]

The station was designed to accommodate four 500 megawatt (MW) coal-fired pulverised fuel units, giving the station a total electrical output of 1,960 MW. The first of these units were connected to the national grid in February 1967.[8] Units 2, 3 and 4 had all been commissioned by 1970.

The station was officially opened by Brigadier Kenneth Hargreaves on 18 September 1970,[11][12] once all units had been commissioned.

Specification

There were four boilers rated at 550 kg/s. Steam conditions were 158.58 bar at 568/568 °C reheat.[13] Units 3 and 4 had Flue Gas Desulphurisation equipment installed, which reduced the units' emissions of sulphur dioxide by around 90%.[2][14]

There were 4 × 17.5 MW auxiliary black start Bristol Siddeley gas turbines on the site: these were first commissioned in May 1967.[13]

Eggborough power station was supplied with fuel via a 1½ mile branch line off the Wakefield and Goole Line. Rail facilities included a west-facing junction on the Goole line, two coal discharge lines (No. 1 and No. 2), gross- and tare-weight weighbridges, a hopper house, a limestone unloading line and an oil discharge line.[15][16]

The eight 90 metre (300 ft) high cooling towers[17] were arranged in two rows of four located to the north of the main power station building. There was a single 200 m (660 ft) tall chimney located east of the main building. This was constructed in 1966.[18] The electrical switching station was located to the south of the main building.[19]

In 2005, a retrofit turbine upgrade was carried out to increase the station's efficiency and flexibility by improving part-load and two-shift operation.[12]

In 2007 the station employed around 300 people, as well as contractors.[2]

Ash disposal

Alongside Ferrybridge Power Stations, Eggborough used to pump ash from the incineration process to a piece of land south of the railway line, the M62 and the Aire and Calder Navigation called Gale Common Ash Disposal.[20] The area covered 0.58 square miles (1.5 km2) and was landscaped by Brenda Colvin into a hill with contours (she was said to have been inspired by Maiden Castle Hill Fort in Dorset). The hill reaches a height of 160 feet (50 m) and stands out amongst the rather flat landscape of this part of North Yorkshire.[21][22]

Ownership

The station was built for, and initially operated by, the Central Electricity Generating Board. The station became the property of National Power on privatisation of the industry in 1990.

British Energy bought Eggborough power station, as its only coal-fired power station, in 2000 to provide a more flexible power production facility alongside its nuclear power stations to reduce penalty charge risks from the New Electricity Trading Arrangements introduced in March 2001. The purchase of Eggborough occurred at the peak of the market for power stations, and in 2002 the value of the station was written down by half.[23]

At the beginning of 2009, Électricité de France (EDF) purchased British Energy. In August 2009, it became apparent that the station's lenders had the option to buy the station the following April, to comply with commitments made to the European Commission when agreeing the acquisition of British Energy.[24] On 1 April 2010, EDF transferred Eggborough to the plant's bondholders.[25]

In November 2014, it was announced that the power station was to be acquired by Czech Republic-based Energetický a průmyslový holding.[26] The acquisition was finalised in January 2015.[27]

In June 2019, the property development and investment group St Francis acquired 130 acres of the site for an undisclosed sum. Eggborough Power Limited kept some nearby land with plans to construct a new gas-fired power station.[1][28]

Closure

In September 2015, the owners announced the plant was expected to stop producing electricity by the end of March 2016. However, less than two months before the closure, in February 2016 it was announced that the plant would continue to operate for at least another twelve months through to March 2017.[27][29][30] In late 2013, there had been plans to convert the station to biomass, however the plans were scrapped after the transition was not identified as "provisionally affordable".[31]

On 1 August, it was announced that a further unit would be available to run commercially from mid September 2016.[32] Units 1 and 2 will generate for National Grid under the Supplementary Balance Reserve contracts providing 775 MW.[33] Unit 4 returned to commercial operation on 16 September 2016 to generate 440 MW into the wholesale market following six months of deep maintenance.[34]

Eggborough power station, September 2016

On 26 August 2016, Eggborough Power Limited (EPL) proposed to develop a new Eggborough Gas-Fired Power Station[35] on the site of its existing coal-fired power station. The new power station would be a combined cycle gas turbine or 'CCGT' plant with three units generating 2,000 MW. Outline plans for the new development involved demolishing the coal fired site and building a new gas connection.[36] Permission for the construction of the new power station was granted by the UK Government in September 2018.[37]

On 2 February 2018, it was announced that Eggborough would close the following September.[38] Eggborough power station stopped generating and de-synced on 23 March 2018. Generator 4 was the last operational unit and was declared unavailable at 02:00.[39] Eggborough power station was bought by St Francis Group in 2019, with a plan to demolish the power station and build warehouse units in its place.[40][41]

In July 2021, about one mile of redundant railway track was donated and moved to the Wensleydale Railway.[42][43]

Demolition

In late 2019, work began on clearing materials from the coal yard which was followed by asbestos removal and preparation of the towers for demolition.[44]

On 1 August 2021, just after 08:00, four of the eight cooling towers were demolished as part of the redevelopment of the site.[45][46] On 10 October 2021 at 09:00, the final four cooling towers were demolished.[5]

On 6 March 2022, the coal bunker building known as 'Bunker Bay' was demolished. The demolition was carried out by Birmingham-based contractors DSM.[47] The Turbine Hall was dismantled prior to the DA Bay's demolition that was scheduled in June 2022.

On 1 June 2022, a section of the boiler house known as 'DA Bay' was demolished.[48][49]

On 24 July 2022, at 10:00, the chimney stack and the main boiler house were demolished. This was the final explosive demolition at the site.[50][51]

Once demolition works are completed, the former station is expected to become an industrial site known as 'Core 62'.[52][28]

Use in media

In late 2018, the decommissioned station was used as a filming location for the Fast and the Furious film, Hobbs & Shaw.[53]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Former Eggborough Power Station sold to property developer". 12 June 2019. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "Modern Apprenticeship in Engineering at Eggborough Power Station" (PDF). British Energy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  3. ↑ "Power Stations in the United Kingdom (operational at the end of May 2004)" (PDF). Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  4. ↑ "Eggborough Power – EP Power Europe". 2 June 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  5. 1 2 Hutchinson, Andrew (10 October 2021). "Eggborough power station demolition: Remaining cooling towers come crashing down". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "New gas-fired energy plant planned". BBC News. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  7. 1 2 Clarke, Jonathan (2013). High merit: existing English post-war coal and oil-fired power stations – Appendix 1. London: Historic England. pp. 2 & 13.
  8. 1 2 "Eggborough celebrates a million hours of power". Energy Live News. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  9. ↑ "Eggborough CCGT Project – Environmental Impact Assessment: Scoping Report" (PDF). Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  10. ↑ Clarke, Jonathan (2013). High merit: existing English post-war coal and oil-fired power stations in context. London: Historic England. p. 17.
  11. ↑ "Official opening of Eggborough power station in 1970". Pontefract and Castleford Express. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  12. 1 2 "Eggborough – Our History". March 2013. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  13. 1 2 Handbook of Electricity Supply Statistics 1989. London: The Electricity Council. 1990. pp. 4 & 8. ISBN 085188122X.
  14. ↑ "Eggborough". British Energy. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2008.
  15. ↑ Jacobs, Gerald (1988). Eastern and Anglia Regions Track Diagrams. Exeter: Quail. pp. 21B. ISBN 0900609559.
  16. ↑ Brailsford, Martyn (2016). Railway Track Diagrams Book 2: Eastern. Frome: Trackmaps. pp. 10B. ISBN 9780954986681.
  17. ↑ "Power plant's remaining towers demolished". BBC News. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  18. ↑ "Electricity Supply in the UK: A chronology". Electricity Council. 1987. p. 92.
  19. ↑ Sheail, John (1991). Power in Trust. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 214. ISBN 0-19-854673-4.
  20. ↑ "Project Overview – Gale Common". Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  21. ↑ Historic England. "Monument No. 1403783 Gale Common Ash Disposal (1403783)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  22. ↑ "Appendix 1". High merit post war coal & oil fired power stations (PDF). Historic England. p. 2. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  23. ↑ "Risk Management: The Nuclear Liabilities of British Energy plc" (PDF). National Audit Office. 6 February 2004. p. 24. Retrieved 13 June 2008.
  24. ↑ Freke, Tom; Pamuk, Humeyra; Stonestreet, John (27 August 2009). "Hedge funds to buy EDF's Eggborough power plant". Reuters. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  25. ↑ Airlie, Catherine (1 April 2010). "EDF Transfers Eggborough Plant to Bondholders After Buying British Energy". Bloomberg. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  26. ↑ Žižka, Jan (4 November 2014). "Křetínský koupil elektrárnu v Británii. Má výkon jako Temelín" (in Czech). lidovky.cz. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  27. 1 2 "UK's coal-fired Eggborough power plant may close in March 2016". Reuters. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  28. 1 2 "Core 62, North Yorkshire (J34 M62)". Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  29. ↑ "Eggborough set to close in March 2016". Utility Week. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  30. ↑ "Reprieve for threatened Eggborough Power Station". BBC News. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  31. ↑ Simet, Anna (2 September 2015). "Eggborough Power Station to close, biomass not an option". Biomass Magazine. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  32. ↑ "3 Unit running at Eggborough Power Ltd". www.eggboroughpower.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  33. ↑ "Eggborough SBR Operational Information | National Grid". National Grid. Archived from the original on 23 November 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  34. ↑ "Eggborough Power Ltd – REMIT Data". www.eggboroughpower.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 August 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  35. ↑ "Eggborough CCGT Project – Proposal to develop a new gas-fired power station". www.eggboroughccgt.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  36. ↑ "Eggborough CCGT | National Infrastructure Planning". infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  37. ↑ "Eggborough CCGT plans gain consent". theconstructionindex.co.uk. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  38. ↑ "Eggborough power station to close with loss of 170 jobs". BBC News. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  39. ↑ "Eggborough power station REMIT data". Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  40. ↑ Farrell, Stephen (12 June 2019). "Former power station acquired by developer". Insider Media. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  41. ↑ "St Francis announces the purchase of former Eggborough Power Station". St Francis Group. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  42. ↑ Admin. "Eggborough Track Recovery | Wensleydale Railway". Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  43. ↑ "Wensleydale Railway Rail Link Photos – Eggborough Track Recovery". photos.wr-rail-link.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  44. ↑ "Eggborough Power Station". Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  45. ↑ Hammond, Grace (August 2021). "Onlookers gather to watch as huge cooling towers are demolished at landmark Yorkshire power station". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  46. ↑ "People gather to watch as huge cooling towers demolished at Yorkshire landmark". Largs & Millport News. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  47. ↑ Newton, Grace (8 March 2022). "Watch moment 12,000-ton coal bunker at Eggborough power station is demolished with explosives". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  48. ↑ Pritchard, Jonathan (2 June 2022). "Eggborough power station demolition: Watch latest demolition carried out at iconic site". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  49. ↑ "Regeneration continues at Eggborough Power Station site". Selby Times. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  50. ↑ "Watch moment 200-metre high chimney at Eggborough power station is demolished with explosives". ITV News. 24 July 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  51. ↑ "Watch as 200-metre high chimney at Eggborough power station is demolished with explosives". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  52. ↑ Dunning, David (9 May 2022). "Developers offered opportunity to invest in the Selby District". YorkMix. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  53. ↑ "Hobbs and Shaw to film in Eggborough village". BBC News. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2020.

Further reading

  • Cooke, B. W. C., ed. (November 1966). "Twenty–Million Tons a Year: Coal supply by rail to three Yorkshire power stations". Railway Magazine. Vol. 662, no. 787. pp. 617–620.
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