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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) - SSE plc (Perth, Scotland) has decided to close two coal-fired plants in the U.K. under new European Union (E.U.) emissions regulations rather than invest in modernising both plants to extend their lives.
The plants include the 2,000-megawatt (MW) Ferrybridge plant in West Yorkshire and the 240-MW Uskmouth plant in Gwent. The company has decided to select the Limited Life Derogation option under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) for its remaining capacity at both plants. Under this 'opt-out' derogation, plants can run without fitting further abatement technology for a total of 17,500 hours or to the end of December 2023, whichever comes first. The IED comes into effect from January 1 2016 and imposes emission limits of SO2, NOx and particulates on all U.K. generation plant.
Paul Smith, SSE's Managing Director, Generation, said: "SSE's primary objective for its generation business is to maintain a diverse portfolio of assets that help keep the lights on. There are many uncertainties surrounding the future operation of generation assets in the U.K. and these make it hard to take balanced decisions that minimise risk and ensure the delivery of the best value energy for customers. The decisions we have taken surrounding the IED and at Peterhead have therefore been influenced by SSE's well established principles covering how we operate and invest in our generation fleet over the long term. We have kept open future options for our key generation plant while ensuring we meet the requirements of the IED, minimise risk and provide a degree of clarity and direction for the teams based at these sites. These decisions also enable SSE to maintain its diversity of technology and fuel types, respond flexibly to fluctuations in customer demand and ensure we have the capacity we require to meet the needs of our customers in a cost effective way.'
The company has already implemented some reductions in capacity at those plants over the past year, blaming challenging market conditions and stricter emissions regulations.
Last March at Ferrybridge, SSE revealed that Unit One (490 MW) and Unit Two (490 MW) have opted out of the Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD) and will close once they have used up their allowed 20,000 operating hours in March 2014. The remaining Unit Three (490 MW) and Unit Four (490 MW), which have been retrofitted with Flue-gas Desulphurisation (FGD) technology to comply with the LCPD, will be operated under the new IED legislation.
The Uskmouth coal-fired plant in Gwent is the U.K.'s oldest and least efficient coal-fired power station and is reaching the end of its technical life, according to SSE. The 120 MW Unit 13 (120 MW) ceased generation last year. The two remaining units with a combined generation capacity of 240 MW will come under the IED.
Last year, at its modern Peterhead gas-fired plant in Aberdeenshire, SSE announced severe reductions in capacity. Although it has a potential generating capacity of 1,840 MW, it had been limited 1,180MW before the company said that this will be cut to 400 MW sometime this year. The company said the decision will have no impact on the proposed CCS project for Peterhead being developed in partnership with Shell UK. For additional information, see March 25, 2013, article - UK Picks Top Carbon Capture Projects.
This year, SSE plans to invest millions of euro to modify high pressure and intermediate steam turbines, control systems and ancillary plant connected with Unit 1 at Peterhead. This will allow the power station to generate power over a much wider range and down to a minimum output of 200 MW. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2015, SSE stated.
View Plant Profile - 1040035 1040602 1034793
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and nine international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. To contact an office in your area, visit the Industrial Info "Contact Us" page.
The plants include the 2,000-megawatt (MW) Ferrybridge plant in West Yorkshire and the 240-MW Uskmouth plant in Gwent. The company has decided to select the Limited Life Derogation option under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) for its remaining capacity at both plants. Under this 'opt-out' derogation, plants can run without fitting further abatement technology for a total of 17,500 hours or to the end of December 2023, whichever comes first. The IED comes into effect from January 1 2016 and imposes emission limits of SO2, NOx and particulates on all U.K. generation plant.
Paul Smith, SSE's Managing Director, Generation, said: "SSE's primary objective for its generation business is to maintain a diverse portfolio of assets that help keep the lights on. There are many uncertainties surrounding the future operation of generation assets in the U.K. and these make it hard to take balanced decisions that minimise risk and ensure the delivery of the best value energy for customers. The decisions we have taken surrounding the IED and at Peterhead have therefore been influenced by SSE's well established principles covering how we operate and invest in our generation fleet over the long term. We have kept open future options for our key generation plant while ensuring we meet the requirements of the IED, minimise risk and provide a degree of clarity and direction for the teams based at these sites. These decisions also enable SSE to maintain its diversity of technology and fuel types, respond flexibly to fluctuations in customer demand and ensure we have the capacity we require to meet the needs of our customers in a cost effective way.'
The company has already implemented some reductions in capacity at those plants over the past year, blaming challenging market conditions and stricter emissions regulations.
Last March at Ferrybridge, SSE revealed that Unit One (490 MW) and Unit Two (490 MW) have opted out of the Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD) and will close once they have used up their allowed 20,000 operating hours in March 2014. The remaining Unit Three (490 MW) and Unit Four (490 MW), which have been retrofitted with Flue-gas Desulphurisation (FGD) technology to comply with the LCPD, will be operated under the new IED legislation.
The Uskmouth coal-fired plant in Gwent is the U.K.'s oldest and least efficient coal-fired power station and is reaching the end of its technical life, according to SSE. The 120 MW Unit 13 (120 MW) ceased generation last year. The two remaining units with a combined generation capacity of 240 MW will come under the IED.
Last year, at its modern Peterhead gas-fired plant in Aberdeenshire, SSE announced severe reductions in capacity. Although it has a potential generating capacity of 1,840 MW, it had been limited 1,180MW before the company said that this will be cut to 400 MW sometime this year. The company said the decision will have no impact on the proposed CCS project for Peterhead being developed in partnership with Shell UK. For additional information, see March 25, 2013, article - UK Picks Top Carbon Capture Projects.
This year, SSE plans to invest millions of euro to modify high pressure and intermediate steam turbines, control systems and ancillary plant connected with Unit 1 at Peterhead. This will allow the power station to generate power over a much wider range and down to a minimum output of 200 MW. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2015, SSE stated.
View Plant Profile - 1040035 1040602 1034793
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and nine international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. To contact an office in your area, visit the Industrial Info "Contact Us" page.
