EDF Opens U.K. Power Projects

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) - The UK arm of French energy giant Electricité de France SA (EDF) (EPA: EDF) (Paris) has officially opened a new gas-fired power plant and an offshore windfarm in the U.K.

The West Burton Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power station and the Teesside offshore windfarm were both officially opened by the U.K.'s Energy Minister, Michael Fallon, and the Chairman and CEO of EDF Group, Henri Proglio.

The CCGT power station at West Burton in Nottinghamshire is the company's largest power project in the country to date, capable of generating 1,300-megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to supply 1.5 million homes. Teesside offshore farm near Redcar is the first offshore windfarm where the development, engineering and construction was led by EDF Group companies. The 27 turbines can produce 62 MW of electricity, which the company said is enough for all the homes in the nearby towns of Redcar, Marske and Saltburn. The Teesside projects brings EDF's wind portfolio to 462 MW and it has 1,500 MW of projects in development.

"Opening two new energy generating projects is proof that the U.K. is a strong focus for new energy investment, and the best place in the world to invest in offshore wind," claimed Minister for Energy Michael Fallon. "These projects will create hundreds of local jobs in the North East and Nottinghamshire, boosting long-term growth. The home-grown energy they produce will also help to reduce our reliance on expensive imports."

Chairman and CEO of EDF Group, Henri Proglio, said: "EDF is a major investor in the U.K.. Teesside and West Burton are examples of the scale and diversity of our commitment to Britain, our second largest market after France. Meanwhile the European Commission is continuing its process to examine plans for the first new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset. These projects, alongside our other plans, demonstrate our long term commitment to investing in new, low carbon electricity generation in the U.K., and contributing to a diverse energy mix."

West Burton CCGT is adjacent to EDF's West Burton A coal-fired power station and close to the Cottam coal power station, both of which are facing closure in the coming decade. In February, EDF outlined future plans for both stations in order to comply with the European Union's (E.U.'s) Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), which comes into effect on from January 1 2016 and calls for stricter emissions limits on SO2, NOx and particulates. EDF said that that both plants will be run under the Limited Life Derogation (LLD) scheme. This means that the plants can run without further modifications for a further 17,500 hours, or to the end of December 2023, whichever comes first. For additional information, see February 12, 2014, article - EDF Reveals Future for U.K. Coal-Fired Plants.

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