The UK government has given the go-ahead for two new power stations in northern England. The first is at the Ferrybridge site in Wakefield, Yorkshire, and if built will be a 108 MW multifuel (biomass and energy from waste) plant , representing an investment of £250m by SSE Generation. The second is Thorpe Marsh, a 1500 MW CCGT power plant in North Doncaster, Yorkshire, representing an investment of £984m by Acorn Power Developments, an early stage developer.
General Electric has been revealed as the main equipment provider for the Thorpe Marsh project. It is to supply the turbines and electrical power equipment for the new plant, probably as components of a Flexefficiency 50 CCGT package, a technology designed to operate at high efficiency in this kind of application. If used for this plant it would most likely be the first UK site for the technology. GE is 50% owner with Acorn Power (through its subsidiary Power Partners) of the development company Thorpe Marsh Power that put together the Thorpe Marsh planning application.
Charles Hendry, Minister of State for Energy, said: “The energy industry can be a real driver of growth across the country. Some £200bn of investment is needed in the energy industry over the coming decade, representing remarkable opportunities for companies in the UK.”
