Littlebrook Power Station

Infobox UK power station
static_

static_image_caption=Littlebrook C, B and A stations, viewed from the east, 1974. The Thames is out of shot to the right.
os_grid_reference=TQ556764
latitude=51.465278
longitude=0.241667
country=England
region=South East England
shire_county=Kent
operator=RWE npower
fuel=Oil-fired
fuel_capacity=1,475MW
opened=1939

Littlebrook Power Station is a power station at Dartford, Kent.

Littlebrook is located on the south bank of the River Thames next to the Queen Elizabeth 2 Bridge and the Dartford Tunnel.

There has been a series of power stations at the site since 1939.

Littlebrook A

The first station was coal-fired and built by the Kent Electric Power Company. Coal was initially brought in by rail, until a riverside pier was completed. The station was opened in 1939 and remained in use until 1973, when it was closed.

Littlebrook B

The 'B' station was delayed by World War 2, coming into use between 1949 and 1950. Like the 'A' Station it originally burned coal, but was later converted to oil. It had a capacity of 120MW and remained in use until 1975.

Littlebrook C

A third coal-fired station was opened between 1952 and 1956 by the Central Electricity Board, with a total output of 240 MW. Like the earlier plants it was converted burn fuel oil by 1958. The station continued in operation until replaced by the 'D' station in 1981.

The 'A', 'B' and 'C' stations were built in line successively further from the Thames. The photograph shows them shortly after the 'A' station went out of use. The 'D' station was later built to their west.

Littlebrook D

Littlebrook D was designed as an oil-fired power station from the start, built by the nationalised CEGB. Construction started in 1977 with first unit coming into use in 1981. The station has a chimney 705 ft (215 m) high, the fourth tallest in the UK [ [http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?buildingID=1823 Chimney illustration] ] two jetties on the Thames and five 110,000 tonne fuel oil storage tanks. Generating capacity is 1,475 MW, enough power to meet the needs of around 2 million people.

On privatisation in 1991 the station was owned by National Power and later by the subsidivision Innogy. The station is now owned by npower, part of RWE.

References

External links

* [http://www.rwe.com/generator.aspx/rwe-npower/group-structure/language=en/id=242846/rwe-npower-generation-and-renewables-littlebrook.html RWE - Littlebrook]
* [http://www.dartfordarchive.org.uk/technology/power_littleb.shtml Dartford Town Archive - Power stations at Littlebrook]