European Union Large Combustion Plant Directive - Coal plants slated for closure
From Global Energy Monitor
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As a result of restrictions on pollutants introduced under the European Union Large Combustion Plant Directive the owners of a number of coal plants have opted to close the plants rather than upgrade their pollution controls. Under the EU scheme, plants with a capacity of greater than 50 megawatts which 'opt out' can operate for a maximum of 20,000 hours after January 2008 and, at the latest, must be shut down by 2015.
Coal plants in the United Kingdom slated for closure
Coal-fired plants in the UK which have decided to opt out are:[1]
| Plant name | Rated thermal input (MWth) | Number of hours operated since 1 January 2008 | Number of operating hours left (as of Jan 1, 2012) | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cockenzie Power Station - LCP 1 - (Units 1&2) | 1600 | 17437 | 2563 | Closed March 15, 2013[2] |
| Cockenzie Power Station - LCP 2 (Units 3&4) | 1600 | 16359 | 3641 | Closed March 15, 2013[3] |
| Kingsnorth Power Station | 5500 | 15262 | 4738 | closed December 2012 [4] |
| Tilbury Power Station LCP2 | 2000 | 12561 | 7439 | Converted to biomass in January 2012.[5] The plant was closed on August 13, 2013 after RWE abandoned its proposal to run the plant for another decade on wood.[6] |
| Tilbury Power Station LCP1 | 2031 | 12274 | 7726 | |
| Ferrybridge Power Station (LCP 1) | 2724 | 11674 | 8326 | In March 2013 SSE announced that the 490MW Units 1 & 2 are expected to close "before the end of 2013/14 financial year." Units 3&4 have been retrofitted with Flue-gas Desulphurisation and may operate through to at least the end of 2020.[7] |
| Didcot A Power Station | 5970 | 11486 | 8514 | Closed in March 2013 after hours limit reached[8][9] |
| Slough Heat and Power | 39 | 9776 | 10224 | |
| Ironbridge Power Station | 1000 | 8583 | 11417 | EON are converting one 500MW unit at the power station to co-fire on 20% coal and 80% biomass but still close by 2015.[10] |
| Slough Power Station 15, 16 & waste heat boiler | 197 | 8444 | 11556 | SSE have announced that the two biomass units will be decommissioned by October 2013 and the boiler will be upgraded and provide 20MW. The closure of the two units will reduce power production by 60MW.[7] |
| Uskmouth Power Station | 360 | In March 2013 SSE announced that the 120MW Unit 13 would close by April 2013 and that decisions on the operation of the remaining two 120MW units will be made in early 2014.[7] |
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ "Opted Out plants 1 January 2012", European Environment Agency, October 2012. See Sheet 17, identified in the tabs at the foot of the Excel spreadhseet as "UK").
- ↑ Scottish Power, "End Of An Era For Cockenzie Power Station – 45 Years Of Electricity Generation Comes To A Close", Media Release, March 15, 2013.
- ↑ Scottish Power, "End Of An Era For Cockenzie Power Station – 45 Years Of Electricity Generation Comes To A Close", Media Release, March 15, 2013.
- ↑ E.ON UK, "Kingsnorth coal-fired power station ends commercial generation and will close by 31st March 2013", Media Release, December 17, 2012.
- ↑ Catherine Airlie, "RWE’s Coal-Power Plant in Tilbury to Become Britain's Largest Wood Burner" Bloomberg,April 8, 2011.
- ↑ Npower, "Last day of generation for Tilbury B Power Station", Media Release, August 12, 2013.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Scottish and Southern Energy, "Review of thermal generation operations", Media Release, March 21, 2013.
- ↑ "Powering the nation for 43 years – farewell from Didcot A Power Station", RWE npower, Media Release, March 22, 2013.
- ↑ Graham Thompson,"Blair's legacy to be demolished", Greenpeace UK, March 22, 2013.
- ↑ EON, "E.ON to progress to next stage with plans for fuel switch and flexibility at Ironbridge power station", Media Release, April 5, 2012.
