Inverkip power station

infobox UK power station
static_

static_image_caption=Inverkip Power Station on the banks of the Clyde
country=Scotland
unitary_scotland=Inverclyde
os_grid_reference=NS196711
latitude=55.899295
longitude=-4.886956
operator=ScottishPower
fuel=Oil-fired
fuel_capacity= 1,900MW
opened=1970
closed=1988

Inverkip power station is an oil-fired power station in Inverclyde, on the west coast of Scotland. It is actually located closer to Wemyss Bay than Inverkip and dominates the local area with its 778 foot (236m) chimney, the third tallest in the UK and Scotland's tallest free-standing structure. [ [http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?buildingID=5737 flue gas stack of Inverkip Power Station] ]

In common with other power stations in Scotland it lacks cooling towers; instead, sea water is used as a coolant. The station consists of three generating units with a combined rating of 1900MW.

Construction began for the then South of Scotland Electricity Board (SSEB) in 1970 of what was to be Scotland's first oil-fired power station. However, the soaring price of oil as a result of the 1973 oil crisis meant that by the time construction was completed generation was uneconomical. It was therefore never utilised to anything near capacity with 1200MW being mothballed and the remaining capacity being used to satisfy peak demand. A notable exception was during the miners' strike of 1984/5 when low coal supplies prompted operation at capacity. Generation ceased in January 1988. Fact|date=July 2008

In construction, provision was made on site for a fourth generating unit (to the north of the existing units), including a fourth stack inside the chimney. One design feature of the power station is the lack of steam driven boiler feed pumps, with units 1 and 2 being provided with three 50% electric boiler feed pumps and unit 3 with two 50% electric feed pumps. The main turbo-generator was manufactured by Parsons, and many of the major components were interchangeable with the turbo-generators at Hunterston B around 13 miles south on the Firth of Clyde, also then owned by the South of Scotland Electricity Board.Fact|date=July 2008

This facility is now owned by the privatised ScottishPower utility group and is maintained in a mothballed condition as part of the strategic reserve. While it is not listed by ScottishPower as being available for generation, demolition is scheduled for 2009 and the site will be cleared for housing and small business development. [Cite web
url = http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=1&id=10468
title = Power houses
author = Fariha Karim
year = 2007
month = 21 August
accessdaymonth = 24 August
accessyear = 2007
publisher = Greenock Telegraph]

References

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sT-O3-dt44 video from interior of powerstation, march 2008,

by Spliffed G

External links

* [http://www.turbozutek.f2s.com/index.php?cat=56 The System: Inverkip Power Station]
* [http://www.level-two.co.uk/report.php?locname=inverkip Level2: Inside Inverkip]
* [http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/index.php/Industry/Inverkip_Power_Station Exploring the Unexplored: Inverkip Power Station]
* [http://flickr.com/photos/cybergibbons/sets/72157600057487848/ Images of Inverkip Power Station (Flickr)]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickrphotos/sets/72157600130113050/ Inverkip Power Station (Flickr)]
* [http://www.urbanassault.t83.net/#/inverkippowerstation/4530053158/ Exploring Inverkip Power Station]