Lynemouth Power Station

Infobox UK power station
static_

static_image_caption=Lynemouth Power Station in July 2008.
os_grid_reference=NZ3090
latitude=55.1796
longitude=-1.5024
country=England
region=North East England
shire_county=Northumberland
operator=Alcan Smelting and Power UK
fuel=Coal-fired
fuel_capacity=390MW
secondary_fuel=Biofuel
secondary_fuel_capacity=30MW
opened=1972

Lynemouth Power Station is a coal and biofuel fired power station located convert|0.8|mi|abbr=on south east of Lynemouth, on the Northumberland coast. Since the closure of Blyth Power Station in 2002, Lynemouth has been the only operating coal-fired power station in North East England. The station is also the second youngest coal-fired power station in the UK (after Drax in North Yorkshire) but is also one of the smallest operating. Despite its small capacity however, it is the most thermally efficient coal-fired power station in the UK. [cite web
title = Energy efficiency, electricity production and air quality improved at Lynemouth
work =
publisher = Alcan
url = http://www.publications.alcan.com/sustainability/2003/en/business/prim_prac_01.html
accessdate = 2008-07-29]

History

The station was commissioned and built by Alcan in 1972 to meet the electrical demands of their new Aluminium Smelter in Lynemouth. [cite web
title = Structure details
work = SINE Project (Structural Images of the North East)
publisher = Newcastle University
url = http://www.sine.ncl.ac.uk/view_structure_information.asp?struct_id=473
accessdate = 2008-07-29] The smelter was built only convert|800|m|abbr=on from the power station in 1974.

At the end of 2000 the power station was given a turbine upgrade which saw an increase in the station's MWh production.

Operations

The power station uses three 140 megawatt (MW) generators. It has a 24 kilovolt (kV) feed to a substation which powers the smelter. The substation also has a 132 kV connection to the National Grid. The smelter's two pot lines only require 310 MW of the 420 MW that the power station produces, so the excess 110 MW produced is fed into the national grid. [cite web
title = No Slide Title
work = John Clarkson
publisher = Alcan
url = http://www.iema.net/download/events/northeast/20051118/John%20Clarkson.pdf
accessdate = 2008-07-29]

The station burns convert|1200000|t|lk=on|sigfig=4 of coal a year to meet Alcan's demands, with a weekly coal consumption in the range of convert|25000|t|lk=on|sigfig=4 and convert|27000|t|lk=on|sigfig=4. Since the closure of Ellington colliery in 2005, this coal has needed to have been brought to the power station by train from collieries and opencasts in other parts of the county and from abroad, currently Russia. Prior to their closures, coal was fed straight from Ellington and Lynemouth collieries to the power station.

In December 2003 the Environment Agency granted permission for the plant to co-fire biomass fuels in the station. Since 2004 three different types of biomass fuel been in use at Lynemouth; Sawdust and Wood pellets from FSC certified forests and Olive residues. These fuels are mixed with the coal on the conveyor belt into the power station. In 2004 convert|11000|t|lk=on|sigfig=4 of biomass fuel were used in the station. Because biomass is considered 'Carbon neutral', this represents the equivalent to saving approximately convert|18500|t|lk=on|sigfig=4 of CO₂ by burning this material. Alcan aimed to increase the amount of biomass used in future. [cite web
title = Environmental Report 2004
work = John Clarkson
publisher = Alcan
url = http://www.iema.net/download/readingroom/article/Alcan%20EMAS05/EMAS05.pdf
accessdate = 2008-07-29]

The power station's chimney smoke stack stands at convert|114|m|abbr=on high but is controversial in that it is thought of as an eyesore by some on the landscape of Duridge Bay.

Fish bait company "Seabait" operate next door to the power station, using the station's waste warm water to make worms grow four times quicker than in the wild. [cite web
title = Bait company bought out of administration
work = The Journal
publisher =
url = http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/business-news/latest-business-news/2008/08/01/bait-company-bought-out-of-administration-51140-21445918/
accessdate = 2008-08-02]

Environmental Impact

Lynemouth Power Station produces approximately convert|2800000|t|lk=on|sigfig=4 of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) per year. The power station's use of biomass since 2004 has been part of an attempt to reduce its CO₂ output. In 2002 and 2004 the station met its targets for reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

References

External links

* [http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=FT&date=20080106&id=7998252 Industry attacks EU green legislation]