Pembroke Power Station

Pembroke B Power Station

Pembroke Power Station
Location of Pembroke B Power Station in Wales
Country Wales, United Kingdom
Location Pembroke, Pembrokeshire
Coordinates 51°40′59″N 4°59′18″W / 51.68311°N 4.98842°W / 51.68311; -4.98842Coordinates: 51°40′59″N 4°59′18″W / 51.68311°N 4.98842°W / 51.68311; -4.98842
Status In operation
Construction began 2008
Commission date 2012
Construction cost £800 million
Owner(s) RWE npower
Thermal power station
Primary fuel Natural gas
Combined cycle? yes
Power generation
Units operational 5 x 400 MWe
Make and model Alstom
Nameplate capacity 2,000 MW

Pembroke B Power Station is a 2,000 MWe natural gas-fired power station near Pembroke in Wales. The power station was officially opened on 19 September 2012 and is the largest gas-fired power station in Europe. It is also the largest power station to be built in the UK since Drax power station came online in 1986. Pembroke Power Station currently generates enough power to supply 3.5 million homes and businesses.

It is a CCGT-type power station that uses natural gas. There are five 400 MW modules, each with a 288 MWe Alstom gas turbine, heat recovery steam generator and steam turbine.

History

From 1968 until 2000, a CEGB 2,000 MW oil-fired power station existed on the site of the current power station. The plant was mothballed by National Power in 1996 when the company proposed to use the controversial fuel Orimulsion. The company changed its mind in the face of fierce opposition and the plant closed in 1997 with the loss of 300 jobs.

National Power put the site up for sale in July 2000. Demolition of the old power station began in 2000 and was completed by 2003. National Power first proposed a CCGT power plant on the site in 1997. This plan lasted until it chose to build Staythorpe instead.

Construction

Pembroke Power Station under construction in January 2011

In 2004, RWE (former National Power) revived plans to build a CCGT power station at Pembroke when proposals for LNG terminals at Milford Haven brought high pressure natural gas infrastructure to the area. A public exhibition was held by the three-man development team in Pembroke Town Hall in February 2005 outlining the proposal to build the £800 million power station in support of the company's planning application. The EPC contractor was Alstom. The ATEX inspection was conducted by the French notified body LCIE. Construction began in 2008 and was completed by mid-2012. The power station employs around 100 people.

During the construction of the power station a contractual dispute broke out between the Main contractor Alstom Power and one of its mechanical subcontractors, Somi. The dispute eventually led to Somi leaving the project leaving dozens of local subcontractors and suppliers unpaid. The local newspaper gave detailed coverage of the matter and the local MP attempted to raise awareness of the issue by mentioning it in Parliament but with little success.

The Main contractor Alstom took on most (if not all) of the local subcontractors and paid all wages due and has since won its case against Somi in a high court judgement.

Environmental Concerns

In December 2012, the European Commission sent a notice of infringement to the British government. The notice lists 18 separate violations of four EU laws regarding the plant's cooling system. The EU commission has requested that the British government prove the new power station's cooling system does not adversely affect marine wildlife in the Milford Haven waterway.[1]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-20090703
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