Uskmouth Power Station
Encyclopedia
The Uskmouth power stations (also known as the Fifoots Point power stations) refers to a series of two coal-fired power station
at the mouth of the River Usk
in the south-east of Newport
, Wales
. The first of the two station, Uskmouth A power station, was built in the 1950s and demolished in the 1990s. The second station, Uskmouth B power station, was built in the 1960s.
. The electricity is provided by three generating sets. It is situated in an essential position for the National Grid, as there are very few power stations situated in the south of Wales. Initially operated by the Central Electricity Generating Board, the station's operations were handed over to National Power
with privatisation in 1990. The station was then closed in 1995. But in 1998, it was purchased by AES
. The station was given a £120 million refurbishment to bring it up to date with legislative requirements. New environmental equipment was installed and it was given a refurbishment which is thought to have extended the station's life by 25 years. The station's generating capacity was also increased to 393 MW. In 2001 the work was completed and the station was reopened. However, only a year later the plant passed into receivership, but had a brief period of operating in the winter between 2003 and 2004. In June 2004 the station was put back into full operation, when it was bought by Welsh Power, who were then known as Carron Energy. Welsh Power sold it to SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy plc) in 2009 for £27m.
The station is currently one of the cleanest coal-fired power stations in the United Kingdom
, and is fitted with Flue Gas Desulphurisation equipment and low NOx burners. It also burns biomass
, as well as coal, for its emissions to be considered closer to being carbon neutral
. The station does not take water from or dump waste water into the River Usk. It instead uses secondary treated sewage water in its cooling system.
The station employs 90 people. It has been awarded RoSPA Gold Award for Occupational Health and Safety
for its efforts to ensure station safety. The station's owners have participated in many local community projects – they donated land to the Newport Wetlands Reserve
, and sponsor Welsh swimmer David Davies
and the Newport Gwent Dragons
.
has been built on the site of the A station by Siemens for Severn Power, a subsidiary of DONG Energy. It was initially reported that it would cost £400 million to build and create 650 construction jobs. It is expected to come on line at the end of 2010 and employ 40 full time staff.
. In the episodes "Rise of the Cybermen
" and "The Age of Steel
", the station was used as the setting for the Cybermen Factory.
Fossil fuel power plant
A fossil-fuel power station is a power station that burns fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas or petroleum to produce electricity. Central station fossil-fuel power plants are designed on a large scale for continuous operation...
at the mouth of the River Usk
River Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
in the south-east of Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The first of the two station, Uskmouth A power station, was built in the 1950s and demolished in the 1990s. The second station, Uskmouth B power station, was built in the 1960s.
Uskmouth A
Uskmouth A power station was built and opened in the early 1950s. It was closed on 26 October 1981 with a generating capacity of 228 megawatts. The station was demolished in 2002Uskmouth B
Uskmouth B power station (or Uskmouth Power as it is now known) was built in 1959. It has a generating capacity of 363 MW, which is enough to power 360,000 homes, or the surrounding area of NewportNewport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
. The electricity is provided by three generating sets. It is situated in an essential position for the National Grid, as there are very few power stations situated in the south of Wales. Initially operated by the Central Electricity Generating Board, the station's operations were handed over to National Power
National Power
- History :National Power was formed following the privatisation of the UK electricity market in 1990. In England and Wales the Central Electricity Generating Board, which was responsible for the generation and transmission of electricity was split into three generating companies Powergen, National...
with privatisation in 1990. The station was then closed in 1995. But in 1998, it was purchased by AES
AES Corporation
AES Corporation is a Fortune 500 company that generates and distributes electrical power. The company was founded on January 28, 1981, as Applied Energy Services by Roger Sant from the US Federal Energy Administration and Dennis Bakke from the Office of Management and Budget. AES Corporation is...
. The station was given a £120 million refurbishment to bring it up to date with legislative requirements. New environmental equipment was installed and it was given a refurbishment which is thought to have extended the station's life by 25 years. The station's generating capacity was also increased to 393 MW. In 2001 the work was completed and the station was reopened. However, only a year later the plant passed into receivership, but had a brief period of operating in the winter between 2003 and 2004. In June 2004 the station was put back into full operation, when it was bought by Welsh Power, who were then known as Carron Energy. Welsh Power sold it to SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy plc) in 2009 for £27m.
The station is currently one of the cleanest coal-fired power stations in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and is fitted with Flue Gas Desulphurisation equipment and low NOx burners. It also burns biomass
Biomass
Biomass, as a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms. As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel....
, as well as coal, for its emissions to be considered closer to being carbon neutral
Carbon neutral
Carbon neutrality, or having a net zero carbon footprint, refers to achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset, or buying enough carbon credits to make up the difference...
. The station does not take water from or dump waste water into the River Usk. It instead uses secondary treated sewage water in its cooling system.
The station employs 90 people. It has been awarded RoSPA Gold Award for Occupational Health and Safety
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is a British charity which aims to promote safety. It is particularly known for its vocal campaigns on issues of road safety, including Tufty the road crossing squirrel, the Cycling Proficiency Test and the Green Cross Code, as well as on issues of...
for its efforts to ensure station safety. The station's owners have participated in many local community projects – they donated land to the Newport Wetlands Reserve
Newport Wetlands Reserve
Newport Wetlands Reserve is a wildlife reserve between Uskmouth, Nash and Goldcliff, in the south-east of the city of Newport, South Wales.- History :...
, and sponsor Welsh swimmer David Davies
David Davies (swimmer)
David Davies is a Welsh Commonwealth Games and Olympic distance swimmer. Born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Davies swam for Wales at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games and represented Great Britain at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics...
and the Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons are one of the four professional Rugby Union regional teams in Wales. They are jointly owned by Newport RFC and the Welsh Rugby Union and play all their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup...
.
Gas-fired station
An 824 megawatt (MW) gas-fired power stationNatural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
has been built on the site of the A station by Siemens for Severn Power, a subsidiary of DONG Energy. It was initially reported that it would cost £400 million to build and create 650 construction jobs. It is expected to come on line at the end of 2010 and employ 40 full time staff.
Uses in culture
In 2006, the station was used as a location for two episodes of Doctor WhoDoctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. In the episodes "Rise of the Cybermen
Rise of the Cybermen
"Rise of the Cybermen" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The episode features the return of Cybermen, where they are created on Earth itself. It is the first part of a two-part story, the concluding part being "The Age of Steel"...
" and "The Age of Steel
The Age of Steel
"The Age of Steel" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 20 May 2006 and is the second part of a two-part story that was the first to feature the Cybermen since Silver Nemesis in 1988. The first part, "Rise of the Cybermen", was...
", the station was used as the setting for the Cybermen Factory.