Authorities Approve 1,520-Megawatt CCGT Plant Near Manchester

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Plans to build a 1,520-megawatt (MW) gas-fired power station in Greater Manchester, England, have been given the thumbs-up by local authorities.

Trafford Council's planning committee has voted to support plans for the 673 million euro ($992 million) project proposed by Carlton Power. The combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant, known as Trafford Power Station, will be located on the site of the old coal-fired Carrington Power Station, which was demolished in 1991. A final decision about whether to grant planning consent to Trafford Power Station will be taken by the U.K. government's Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) before the end of the year.

The site is currently home to the proposed 860-MW Carrington Energy Centre, which received planning permission in July 2008. The Carrington Energy Centre is jointly owned by Carlton Power (15%) and Electricity Supply Board International (85%), the international arm of the Irish state electricity generator, Electricity Supply Board (Dublin). Groundwork for the project is scheduled to start by the end of the year, and the plant will commence commercial operation in 2013. The plant, according to Carlton, will emit less than half the carbon dioxide and only 10% of the nitrogen dioxide produced by similarly sized coal-fired power plants.

"The U.K. needs a new phase of energy-generation development to replace national power generation capacity that will be lost shortly with the impending closure of so many older coal and nuclear power stations," said Mike Benson, project director at Carlton Power. "Trafford Power Station will be able to supply electricity to over 1.5 million homes in the region. The decision by Trafford's Planning Committee sends out a clear signal that the need for new power generation is understood very well in the North West."

Trafford's Executive Councillor for Economic Growth, Mike Cornes, commented: "As well as helping to supply our energy needs, Trafford Power Station would contribute to the ongoing regeneration of Carrington. It's a £600 million investment proposal, creating up to 800 construction jobs and up to 60 full-time operational posts. Should the plant get the final go-ahead from the minister of state, Trafford Power Station will offer valuable new employment opportunities to local people."

The power station will be capable of supplying heat to neighbouring businesses, and there is enough land available to incorporate a facility for carbon capture and storage (CCS) nearby. The plant has been designed to incorporate CCS technology retrospectively in the future.

Carlton Power has a power generation portfolio of more than 2,700 MW spread over six projects, including Langage Power Station near Plymouth, which is set to become U.K.'s newest power station when it enters service in 2010.

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