Stornoway power station

Last updated

Stornoway power station Guns guarding Stornoway Power Station (geograph 4019195).jpg
Stornoway power station

Stornoway power station, also known as Battery Point Power Station, is an electrical generation facility in Stornoway, Scotland. [1] It was commissioned in 1954 to supply power to the Western Isles and currently comprises eight Mirrlees Blackstone, medium speed, diesel generators with a combined output of 25.5MW. The station is owned and operated by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) part of SSE plc. The Western Isles power network was originally operated independently of the Scottish mainland network.

Contents

In 1990 a 33kV submarine interconnector cable was constructed to link to the 132kV single circuit from Fort Augustus via Skye to Harris onto Lewis. [2] The power station now operates principally as a 'peaking' station during the winter months when demand exceeds the capacity of the interconnector (ca. 22MW [3] ) and during maintenance of the interconnector in the summer months as well as providing backup in case of loss of the inter-connector supply.

Other smaller power stations on the Western Isles are located at; Arnish (nr Stornoway), Lewis; Loch Carnan, South Uist; and Ardveenish, Barra.

Technical details

The power station has a total electrical rating of 25.5MW comprising eight Mirrlees Blackstone, medium speed, compression ignition engines with a net rated thermal input of between 5.1 MW and 12.0 MW, burning low sulphur (marine grade) diesel fuel oil, as detailed below; [4]

Engine NumberThermal Input (MW)Electrical Output (MW)Engine Type
15.12.0Mirrlees KVSS
25.12.0Mirrlees KVSS
310.54.6Mirrlees KV Major Mk2
57.42.2Mirrlees KVSS
65.12.0Mirrlees KVSS
89.23.5Mirrlees KV Major Mk1
912.04.6Mirrlees KV Major Mk2
109.54.6Mirrlees KV Major Mk2
Total25.5

NB: There is no engine number 4 or 7.

The engines are operated such that the newer engines (3, 9, 10) are brought on-line first and run to meet demand where possible. Should additional demand be required, power output is provided from engine 8, then from engines 5 and 6 and then from engines 1 and 2 in that order (engine 1 and 2 also being of equal rank).

The engines are grouped to supply 3 exhaust stacks as follows;

Stack NumberEngines
11, 2, 3
25, 6
38, 9, 10

Nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide (NOx) mg/Nm3 emissions are limited to 1850 mg/Nm3 per stack

Operating regime

The operating regime of the power station is heavily determined by the availability of the interconnector to the Scottish mainland and the local power demand in Stornoway. The power station's combustion engines are maintained in a back-up role to cater for periods when the island's demand for power exceeds the supply capacity.

The Power station currently operates in the following scenarios;

Following the completion of a number of transmission projects to improve reliability, and development of wind farms locally, site operations are now largely dictated by the availability of local wind energy supply.

In November 2018, following a landslip that damaged part of the overhead transmission network on the mainland the Western Isles were entirely dependent on the four power stations [5]

Refurbishment

SSE obtained consent for the refurbishment of the power station in 2017 from Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). [4]

The historic fuel oil supply consisted of a 1 km underground fuel oil transfer pipeline from the fuelling berth at Stornoway Harbour, with a Pipeline Inspection Gauge (pig) launching / receiving facility and two 2,000 tonne bulk fuel storage tanks at the power station. The harbour facilities and associated pipeline are no longer in use. The pig launching / receiving facility has been removed.

The original fuel tanks were removed and replaced with a new tank farm that is bunded* to the appropriate capacity specification to meet modern environmental requirements, along with provision of a new fuel oil delivery system. The new tanks are: three new 145 tonne marine-grade diesel fuel oil storage tanks (Tank No 1, No 2 and No 3), two daily service tanks, one lubricating (lub) oil tank and one waste oil sludge tank.(*Fuel tanks with a tank within tank arrangement to contain a fuel leak in the primary tank)

The following works were approved;

The Chimney works were undertaken in 2017. [6] ABB Group undertook a refurbishment of the engine turbo-chargers in 2017 [7]

Future

The proposed Western Isles HVDC connection comprises a 450MW, [2] (later proposed as 600MW [8] ) HVDC link between Beauly and the Isle of Lewis and the associated Lewis Infrastructure reinforcement to be completed by 2023. This link is primarily aimed at enabling wind farm developments on the Western isles to be linked to the mainland network for export of power. However it would also provide a second circuit to the islands increasing capacity and security of supply and reducing the need for diesel plant on the islands. In 2019 the regulator Ofgem gave a provisional statement in support of a 450MW link to be confirmed later in 2019. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peaking power plant</span> Reserved for high demand times

Peaking power plants, also known as peaker plants, and occasionally just "peakers", are power plants that generally run only when there is a high demand, known as peak demand, for electricity. Because they supply power only occasionally, the power supplied commands a much higher price per kilowatt hour than base load power. Peak load power plants are dispatched in combination with base load power plants, which supply a dependable and consistent amount of electricity, to meet the minimum demand.

The East–West Interconnector is a 500 MW high-voltage direct current submarine and subsoil power cable which connects the Irish and British electricity markets. The project was developed by the Irish national grid operator EirGrid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell Bay Power Station</span> Former power station in Tasmania

The Bell Bay Power Station was a power station located in Bell Bay, on the Tamar River, Tasmania, Australia, adjacent to the Tamar Valley Power Station, with which it was often confused. It was commissioned between 1971 and 1974 as an oil fired thermal power station, and was converted to natural gas in 2003, after the commissioning of the Tasmanian Gas Pipeline, a submarine gas pipeline which transports natural gas from Longford, Victoria, under Bass Strait, to Bell Bay, Tasmania. As the power station's primary role was to provide system security in the event of drought for Tasmania's predominantly hydro-electric based generation system it only was rarely called on to operate, resulting in intervals of five to eight years between periods of significant use. After the commissioning of Basslink in 2006, the power station was decommissioned in 2009.

FortisBC is a Canadian owned, British Columbia based regulated utility focused on providing safe and reliable energy, including natural gas, Renewable Natural Gas, electricity and propane. FortisBC has approximately 2,600 employees serving more than 1.2 million customers in 135 B.C. communities and 58 First Nations communities across 150 Traditional Territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coryton Refinery</span>

Coryton Refinery was an oil refinery in Essex, England, on the estuary of the River Thames 28 miles (45 km) from central London, between Shell Haven Creek and Hole Haven Creek, which separates Canvey Island from the mainland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Russia</span> Overview of the production, consumption, import and export of energy and electricity in Russia

Energy consumption across Russia in 2020 was 7,863 TWh. Russia is a leading global exporter of oil and natural gas and is the fourth highest greenhouse emitter in the world. As of September 2019, Russia adopted the Paris Agreement In 2020, CO2 emissions per capita were 11.2 tCO2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fawley Refinery</span> Oil refinery in Hampshire, England

Fawley Refinery is an oil refinery located at Fawley, Hampshire, England. The refinery is owned by Esso Petroleum Company Limited, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, which acquired the site in 1925. Situated on Southampton Water, it was rebuilt and extended in 1951 and is now the largest oil refinery in the United Kingdom, and one of the most complex refineries in Europe. With a capacity of 270,000 barrels (43,000 m3) per day, Fawley provides 20 percent of the UK's refinery capacity. An estimated 1000 people are employed at the site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Queensland</span> Overview of the production, consumption, import and export of energy and electricity in Queensland

Queensland's energy policy is based on the year 2000 document called the Queensland Energy Policy: A Cleaner Energy Strategy. The Queensland Government assists energy development through the Department of Energy and Water Supply. The state is noted for its significant contribution to coal mining in Australia. The primary fuel for electricity generation in the state is coal with coal seam gas becoming a significant fuel source. Queensland has 98% of Australia's reserves of coal seam gas. An expansion of energy-intensive industries such as mining, economic growth and population growth have created increased demand for energy in Queensland.

Natural gas was Canada's third largest source of energy production in 2018, representing 22.3% of all energy produced from fuels in the country. By contrast, the share of fuel-based energy production from natural gas in 2013 was 17.0%, indicating a growth rate of approximately 1.06% per year.

The United Kingdom's National Transmission System (NTS) is the network of gas pipelines that supply gas to about forty power stations and large industrial users from natural gas terminals situated on the coast, and to gas distribution companies that supply commercial and domestic users. It covers Great Britain, i.e. England, Wales and Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Ireland</span> Overview of energy in Ireland

Ireland is a net energy importer. Ireland's import dependency decreased to 85% in 2014. The cost of all energy imports to Ireland was approximately €5.7 billion, down from €6.5 billion (revised) in 2013 due mainly to falling oil and, to a lesser extent, gas import prices. Consumption of all fuels fell in 2014 with the exception of peat, renewables and non-renewable wastes.

Shetland HVDC Connection is a high-voltage direct current submarine power cable under construction to connect Shetland to the British mainland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Collette Power Station</span> Power station on Jersey

La Collette Power Station is the main power station for Jersey, and is now the main control centre for the Channel Islands Electricity Grid. It is operated by Jersey Electricity (JE). Under normal circumstances the power generation facilities served as an emergency supply in case of power interruption, however the failure of undersea cables in 2012 temporarily returned La Collette's role to full-time generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Kenya</span>

This article describes energy and electricity production, consumption, import and export in Kenya. Kenya's current effective installed electricity capacity is 2,651 MW, with peak demand of 1,912 MW, as of November 2019. At that time, demand was rising at a calculated rate of 3.6 percent annually, given that peak demand was 1,770 MW, at the beginning of 2018. Electricity supply is mostly generated by renewable sources with the majority coming from geothermal power and hydroelectricity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lerwick Power Station</span>

The main power supply for Shetland is provided by Lerwick Power Station, located in Gremista, 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) northwest of Lerwick town centre. This is the principal source of electrical energy for Shetland, however currently about 20 MWe is provided by the Sullom Voe Terminal power station which comprises 4 x 23 MWe Gas Turbines, the future of which is uncertain. Opened on 27 May 1953 the station is diesel-fuelled and generates a total of 66 MW of power.

Grain LNG Terminal is a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal on the Isle of Grain, 37 miles (60 km) east of London. It has facilities for the offloading and reloading of LNG from ships at two jetties on the River Medway; for storing and blending LNG; for truck loading; and regasifying and blending natural gas to meet UK specifications. The terminal can handle up to 15 million tonnes per annum of LNG, has storage capacity for one million cubic metres of LNG, and is able to regasify up to 645 GWh per day for delivery into the high pressure gas National Transmission System (NTS). The facility is owned and operated by National Grid Grain LNG Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Grid.

Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited (BELCO) is a Bermudian electricity-generating company. It is the country's sole supplier of electricity, operating a generating plant. transmission and distribution systems throughout the territory. It is a subsidiary of Ascendant Group Limited, together with Bermuda Gas, PureNERGY Renewables, and inVenture Limited.

Tüpraş Kırıkkale Oil Refinery is an oil refinery in Kırıkkale, central Turkey. It is owned and operated by Tüpraş, the country's only oil refiner with four refineries.

The Sapugaskanda Refinery is the single largest oil refinery of Sri Lanka. The refinery was built by Iran under the guidance of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation in August 1969, initially designed to process 38,000 barrels (6,000 m3) per stream day of Dubai crude oil, and Arabian light crude oil. It was commissioned on 12 October 1969. The facility, which covers an area of 165 acres (67 ha), currently has a capacity of 50,000 barrels (7,900 m3) per stream day.

The Western Isles HVDC connection is a proposed 1.8GW HVDC submarine power cable to connect the Isle of Lewis to the Scottish mainland.

References

  1. "MSP visits Stornoway electricity depot". Stornoway Gazette. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Case summary" (PDF). ssen-transmission.co.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  3. "Position paper" (PDF). www.cne-siar.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Final decision document" (PDF). www.sepa.org.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  5. "Massive power cut hits Isles - latest!". Welovestornoway.com. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  6. "Battery Point Power Station". News.ssen.co.uk. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  7. "ABB breathes new life into 60-year old VTR turbochargers for Battery Point". New.abb.com. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  8. "SSEN submits Needs Case to Ofgem for Western Isles transmission link". Sse.com. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  9. Glen, Louise (20 March 2019). "SSE fury at expected ruling on Western Isles energy link - News for the Oil and Gas Sector".

Coordinates: 58°12′12″N6°22′25″W / 58.2033°N 6.3737°W / 58.2033; -6.3737