Plans for Widnes reserve power plant

BLUEPRINTS for a reserve power plant (RPP) in Widnes which would provide power to the National Grid when demanded have been drawn up.

Sirius Renewable Energy has handed over proposals to Halton Borough Council for a facility on land off Shell Green on Bennett’s Lane.

A design and access statement accompanying the plans said the facility would include seven generators sets fuelled by gas and four transformers.

The plant would generate 14MW of electricity as well as store a further 14MW.

The statement said: “The facility will provide balancing services to National Grid to ensure the future security of the country’s electrical supply.

“The facility will provide power to the local distribution network in a short space of time when demand is greater than available supply.

“The generators will operate when called upon by National Grid to recharge the batteries as necessary, therefore their operation will be intermittent.

“With the existing industrial nature surrounding the site, it is considered that the same and appearance of the proposed development is not out of character with the local setting.”

The RPP would operate for approximately 3,500 hours per year with the generators, battery storage units and transformers having an operational lifespan of between 10 and 15 years before needing to be replaced.

A separate planning statement also submitted as part of the plans said the construction phase at the site would last approximately four months and that the facility would likely to be delivering power to the National Grid ‘when demand is greatest’ in the morning and early evening.

It added: “As the application site has been vacant for 12 years it is clear that market demand for employment purposes at the site is not viable.

“The application demonstrates that the facility will provide energy balancing services to the National Grid to ensure the future security of our electricity supply.”