Thursday 2 December 2010

Power station responds to snow demands

As debate rages around emissions performance standards for fossil fuel power stations, an oil-fired station in Southampton is shifting up a gear to meet demand caused by this week's snow storms.

Because RWE npower's Fawley operation is oil-fired it can start generating power more quickly than fossil-fuelled facilities.

This, claims RWE npower, makes it able to respond quickly to adverse conditions when demand for power is high and the National Grid needs more electricity.

Fawley manager Nick Stockdale said: "When we were informed of the expected heavy snow we put plans into place to ensure that our employees were able to get into work. All our key workers have braved the substantial snowfall overnight and we'll be able to step up generation and provide power and warmth for over one million people."

Mr Stockdale added: "Although we have seen a significant rise in demand for electricity over the last few days, the situation is well under control. We have a good supply of fuel and we have contingency plans in place to ensure that all other vital supplies to the power stations are not affected by the poor weather."