U.K. Gas-Fired Project Green Lit

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) - The green light has been given for the construction of a 1,500-megawatt (MW) combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station in Yorkshire, England.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) said that the Knottingley Power Project, located at the site of the former Oxiris Chemical works in East Knottingley, is a 'nationally significant infrastructure project' that will play a key role in securing the U.K.'s future energy supply. When commissioned in 2018 the plant will be capable of generating enough electricity to power approximately two million homes.

DECC's decision followed a recommendation from the Planning Inspectorate, which oversees applications for energy projects in excess of 50 MW.

The Planning Inspectorate's Chief Executive, Simon Ridley, said: "This is the 36th application for a nationally significant infrastructure project to be examined by The Planning Inspectorate. The examination, recommendation and decision have been within the statutory timescales laid down in the Planning Act 2008. Local people, the local authority and other interested parties were able to participate in the 6 month long examination. This, together with the certainty of knowing when a decision will be made, provides confidence in the planning process and aide the infrastructure improvements this country needs to secure its energy and future economic growth."

The power station will be supplied with natural gas via an underground pipeline that will connect into the national gas transmission network's pipeline near Gateforth, eight kilometers away.

The decision to proceed with a new gas-fired plant comes at a difficult time in the U.K. energy sector where cheap coal imports in recent years has seen cleaner gas-fired power taking a back seat in the generation mix. Last May, leading gas and energy company Centrica plc (OTC:CPYYY) (Windsor, England), announced that it was going to sell off most of its gas-fired power plants due to weak power demand and increased competition from coal-fired plants and renewables. The company intends to sell its Langage, Humber and Killingholme CCGT plants which have a combined generating capacity of 2,700 MW. The sale will raise an estimated £500 million ($839 million) for the company. For additional information, see May 19, 2014, article - Centrica Selling Three Gas-Fired Plants.

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