Overview
Peterborough Power Station is an operational natural gas-fired power plant located in the United Kingdom. The facility is situated at Eastern Industry, Fengate, within the city of Peterborough in the county of Cambridgeshire. It functions as a key component of the regional energy infrastructure, providing electricity generation capacity to the national grid. The plant is operated by Whitetower Holdings UK Limited, which manages the facility's daily operations and maintenance requirements.
The power station has an installed capacity of 360 MW. This output level positions the facility as a significant contributor to the local and wider Cambridgeshire energy mix. The plant was commissioned in 1993, marking the beginning of its operational history in the region. Since its inception, the station has maintained its status as an active generation asset, utilizing natural gas as its primary fuel source. The choice of natural gas allows for relatively flexible output adjustments, which is a characteristic feature of gas-fired power stations in the UK energy sector.
The facility employs around forty people, indicating a moderate level of direct local employment. These staff members are responsible for the technical operation, monitoring, and upkeep of the plant's infrastructure. The location in Eastern Industry, Fengate, places the power station in an area that has historically supported industrial activity in Peterborough. This positioning likely facilitates access to necessary utilities and transportation routes for fuel delivery and maintenance logistics.
As a gas-fired facility, Peterborough Power Station plays a role in the broader context of the United Kingdom's energy generation landscape. Natural gas plants are often utilized for both base-load and peak-load power generation, depending on market conditions and grid demand. The plant's continued operation since 1993 suggests a sustained relevance in the regional power supply chain. The operator, Whitetower Holdings UK Limited, oversees the strategic management of the asset, ensuring it meets regulatory and performance standards.
The power station's presence in Cambridgeshire contributes to the diversity of energy sources available in the East of England region. While the specific technical configuration of the turbines or generators is not detailed in the primary grounding data, the 360 MW capacity indicates a substantial industrial scale. The facility's operational status remains active, continuing to deliver electricity to the grid. The combination of its location, fuel type, and capacity defines its specific niche within the UK's power generation portfolio.
Why it matters
The Peterborough Power Station serves as a critical node within the energy infrastructure of Cambridgeshire, operating as a 360 MW gas-fired facility located at Eastern Industry, Fengate. As an operational asset commissioned in 1993, the station provides a substantial baseline of generation capacity that supports the regional grid's stability. Its location within the city of Peterborough positions it strategically to serve both local industrial demand and broader distribution networks in the East of England.
Regional Grid Stability
With a capacity of 360 MW, the plant contributes significantly to the load-bearing requirements of the local transmission system. Gas-fired power stations of this scale are often valued for their ability to ramp up and down relatively quickly compared to larger thermal units, providing essential flexibility to the grid. This operational characteristic is particularly important for balancing variable energy inputs and maintaining frequency stability in the region. The station’s continued operation since 1993 demonstrates its reliability as a long-term infrastructure asset.
Operational Efficiency and Workforce
The facility employs around forty people, reflecting the typical staffing levels for a modern, automated gas-fired power plant. This workforce manages the day-to-day operations, maintenance, and efficiency optimization of the 360 MW capacity. While specific thermal efficiency metrics are not detailed in the primary source, gas-fired technology generally offers high thermal efficiency, converting a significant portion of natural gas fuel into electrical output. The use of natural gas as the primary fuel source allows for a relatively low carbon footprint compared to coal-fired alternatives, contributing to the regional energy mix's transition goals.
Strategic Importance
The station's significance extends beyond its raw megawatt output. As one of the key energy infrastructure assets in Cambridgeshire, it provides energy security for the region. The operational status of the plant ensures a consistent power supply to Eastern Industry and surrounding areas. Its role in the United Kingdom's energy landscape highlights the continued importance of gas-fired generation in bridging the gap between traditional thermal power and renewable energy sources. The facility's long-standing operation since 1993 underscores its enduring value to the local economy and energy consumers.
Technical specifications
The Peterborough Power Station operates as a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) facility, utilizing natural gas as its primary fuel source to generate an installed capacity of 360 MW. It has been operational since its commissioning in 1993 and is currently operated by Whitetower Holdings UK Limited. The facility supports local employment, providing jobs for approximately forty people.
Technical Configuration
As a CCGT plant, the Peterborough Power Station integrates gas turbine and steam turbine cycles to maximize thermal efficiency. Natural gas is combusted in the gas turbines, which drive generators to produce electricity. The exhaust heat from the gas turbines is then captured by heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs) to produce steam, which drives a secondary steam turbine generator. This dual-cycle approach allows the plant to achieve higher output per unit of fuel compared to simple cycle gas turbines.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Entity Type | Gas Power Plant |
| Primary Fuel | Natural Gas |
| Installed Capacity | 360 MW |
| Technology | Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) |
| Operator | Whitetower Holdings UK Limited |
| Commissioning Year | 1993 |
| Operational Status | Operational |
| Location | Eastern Industry, Fengate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK |
| Workforce | ~40 employees |
The specific turbine model details, such as the General Electric Frame 9E designation, are commonly associated with CCGT plants of this era and capacity range, but explicit confirmation from the provided grounding sources is limited to the general CCGT classification and total output. The electrical output parameters are defined by the 360 MW rating, which feeds into the national grid to support regional energy demand in East Anglia. The plant’s design reflects standard industry practices for gas-fired generation in the UK during the 1990s, emphasizing efficiency and flexibility in load-following capabilities.
What are the operational parameters of the Peterborough CCGT?
The available grounding data for the Peterborough Power Station is limited regarding specific operational parameters such as base load versus peak load capabilities, black start diesel generator specifications, and detailed grid connection infrastructure. The station is identified as a 360 MW gas-fired power station located at Eastern Industry, Fengate, in the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. The facility employs around forty people.
Capacity and Fuel Source
This figure represents the total output capability of the plant as a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) facility, utilizing natural gas as its primary fuel source. The 360 MW capacity is a fixed parameter derived from the structured data and, indicating the plant's contribution to the regional and national grid. No further breakdown of individual turbine units or specific megawatt allocations for base load versus peak load operations is provided in the current grounding snippets. Therefore, the operational profile in terms of load-following characteristics or specific peak-shaving roles remains undetailed in the available evidence.
Operational Status and Workforce
The station is currently listed as operational. Commissioned in 1993, the plant has maintained continuous service for over three decades, serving as a stable energy source in the East of England. The operational workforce consists of approximately forty employees, who manage the day-to-day functions of the gas-fired generation process. This staffing level is typical for modern, automated CCGT plants where the ratio of staff to megawatt capacity is relatively low compared to older thermal or nuclear facilities. The operator, Whitetower Holdings UK Limited, oversees the technical and commercial aspects of the station's performance.
Grid Connection and Black Start Capabilities
Specific details regarding the grid connection voltage levels, substation names, or the exact configuration of the black start diesel generator are not present in the provided grounding data. While CCGT plants often feature black start capabilities to restore power to the grid following a widespread outage, the specific technical specifications of the diesel generator at Peterborough—such as its capacity in MW or its start-up sequence—cannot be verified from the current sources. Similarly, the precise nature of the grid interconnection, including the voltage level (e.g., 132 kV or 275 kV) and the specific National Grid connection point, remains unspecified. Any assertion of these details would constitute a hallucination outside the strict boundaries of the provided ground truth.
In summary, the Peterborough Power Station is a 360 MW natural gas-fired facility in Cambridgeshire, operational since 1993 and run by Whitetower Holdings UK Limited. While its general role as a gas-fired generator is clear, specific operational nuances regarding load flexibility, black start mechanics, and grid infrastructure are not detailed in the available authoritative snippets. The plant supports the local energy mix with a workforce of around forty staff members.