Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Agenda Item No. Report of Director of Technical & Environmental Services to Development Control Committee On 2nd March 2005 Report prepared by: Nigel Hebden Proposed Conversion of Two Existing Oil-Fired Units to Two Gas-Fired Combined Cycle Modules with Power Generation Capacity of 2400 Megawatts: Grain Power Station, Isle of Grain, Rochester: Consultation by Medway Council A Part I Public Agenda Item 1 Introduction 1.1 Applications have been submitted to Medway Council for consent under the Electricity Act 1989 and a direction under Section 90 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 that permission be deemed to be granted. The application is supported by an Environmental Statement and Medway Council has consulted the Borough on the proposal. 2 The Proposal 2.1 To erect two natural gas fired combined cycle turbine units one at either end of the existing power station together with associated heat recovery units and electrical generation equipment. Natural gas would be supplied from the National Transmission System. The existing oil fired elements would be de-commissioned. 2.2 The Non-Technical Summary indicates that the extensions housing the new plant would be significantly lower than the existing main building. 2.3 However each module would require three 80 metre chimneys and three 60 metre chimneys (i.e. total of 12 additional chimneys). Other elements required to support the new turbines would be housing within the existing building. 3 Location 3.1 Grain Power Station is located within the site of the BP Oil Refinery and lies 8km south of Southend Pier head and 10km from the seafront. 4 Background 4.1 The current power station was planned in the 1960’s when oil prices were comparatively low and commissioning of oil burning units took place between 1979 and 1984. In more recent years only two of the units have been operating. 4.2 The proposal is to convert the power station to natural gas firing. This fuel is more efficient in terms of generating electricity as an output against the fuel energy input. Gas fired units achieve efficiency of 54-58% whilst oil fired units run at about 40%. There are also generally less emissions from oil fired units. Proposed Conversion of Two Existing Oil- Page 1 of 2 Report No: DTES05/17 - FINAL Fired Units to Two Gas Fired Combined Cycle Modules with Power Generation capacity of 2400 megawatts 5 Potential Impacts Visual 5.1 The two units will be lower than the existing building however there will be 12 additional chimneys (60 and 80 metres high). The existing buildings and transmission lines will be retained. Given the distance from the town it is not considered that there would be an adverse visual impact on the town. Water Quality 5.2 The existing station utilises cooling water taken from the estuary which is then returned at a temperature set to avoid thermal pollution. The discharge temperature for the gas fired proposal is 13°C which is 5°C lower than that currently consented. Studies suggest that there will be no adverse impact on marine flora and fauna. Air Quality 5.3 The plant will generate air borne emissions however these will either be less than the current plant or well within the Air Quality Strategy targets that have been set. Flood Risk 5.4 The site is already protected and it is not considered that the proposal will increase risk elsewhere. Summary 5.5 The proposal is unlikely to have any material visual impact on Southend and it will in general produce less impact than the existing plant on the environment. 6 Recommendation 6.1 The Committee is recommended to advise Medway Council that on the basis of the information supplied this Council has no objection to the proposal. 7 Background Papers 7.1 Application Form 7.2 Non-Technical Summary of Environmental Statement 8 Appendices 8.1 There are no appendices attached to this report. Proposed Conversion of Two Existing Oil- Page 2 of 2 Report No: DTES05/17 - FINAL Fired Units to Two Gas Fired Combined Cycle Modules with Power Generation capacity of 2400 megawatts.