Stepney Power Station
{{Short description|Former coal-fired power station}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox power station
| name = Stepney Power Station
| image =
| image_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|51.509574|-0.034500|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country = England
| location = Tower Hamlets, London
| status = Decommissioned and demolished
| owner =
| operator = Stepney Borough Council
(1907–1948)
British Electricity Authority
(1948–1955)
Central Electricity Authority
(1955–1957)
Central Electricity Generating Board
(1958–1972)
| employees =
| th_fuel_primary = Coal
| ps_chimneys = 1 (351 feet)
| ps_cooling_source = River water
| ps_units_operational = 1 × 34 MW (1964-72)
| ps_units_manu_model =
| ps_electrical_capacity =
| ps_electrical_cap_fac =
| ps_annual_generation = (See text)
| th_fuel_tertiary =
| construction_began =
| commissioned = {{start date and age|1907}}
| decommissioned = {{end date and age|1972}}
| cost =
| extra = {{gbmapping|TQ365808}}
}}
Stepney Power Station (sometimes known as Limehouse Power Station) was a small coal-fired power station situated by the Thames on the north side of Narrow Street, Limehouse, London.
History
Stepney Borough Council began construction of the station at Blyth Wharf in 1907.It initially contained a single Willans & Robinson 2,000 kW 6,000-volt 50-cycle three-phase turbo-alternator{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_electrical-review_1908-01-10_62_1572/page/64/mode/2up?view=theater |title=The Electrical Review 1908-01-10: Vol 62 Iss 1572 |date=1908-01-10 |publisher=St. John Patrick Publishers |others=Internet Archive |language=English}} This plant was supplemented by a further two Willans turbo alternators a Parsons DC set with total capacity of this plant being some 6,500 Kw. In 1915 the station was extended to allow two 5,000-Kw. Escher Wyss turbines connected to Brown Boveri alternators.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_electrical-review_1915-10-29_77_1979/page/552/mode/2up?view=theater |title=The Electrical Review 1915-10-29: Vol 77 Iss 1979 |date=1915-10-29 |publisher=St. John Patrick Publishers |others=Internet Archive |language=English}} A coaling jetty was built in 1923.{{cite book |title=London's Riverscape Lost and Found: Panorama of the River from 1937 and today |last=Ellmers |first=Chris |author2=Alex Warner |year=2000 |publisher=The London's Riverscape Lost and Found Partnership |isbn=1-874044-30-9 |pages=43–44 }} The station supplied the boroughs of Stepney and Bethnal Green.{{cite web |publisher=National Archives|title=London Electricity Board (LEB)Pre-Vesting Undertakings (1882 - 1948) LMA/4278/01 1883 - 2003|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=074-lma4278&cid=1&kw=London%20Metropolitan%20Archives#1|accessdate= 21 April 2009}}
New generating equipment was added as the demand for electricity increased. The generating capacity, maximum load, and electricity generated and sold was as follows:{{Cite book|last=London County Council|title=London Statistics (various volumes)|publisher=London County Council|location=London}}Electricity Commission, Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31st December 1946. London: HMSO, 1947.
| class="wikitable"
|+Stepney power station generating capacity, load and electricity produced and sold, 1903–46 |Year |Generating capacity, MW |Maximum load, MW |Electricity generated, GWh |Electricity sold, GWh |
| 1903/04
|1.72 |1.266 |2.745 |2.53 |
| 1912/13
|8.00 |6.046 |17.783 |14.580 |
| 1918/19
|16.50 |9.720 |28.812 |25.383 |
| 1919/20
|16.00 |10.24 |30.836 |28.503 |
| 1923/24
|32.00 |17.501 |50.053 |42.140 |
| 1936/37
|70.00 |41.904 |95.304 |98.686 |
| 1946
| |61.48 |140.157 |128.92 |
In 1923 the plant comprised one 1,500 kW, one 2,000 kW, two 5,000 kW, and one 10,000 kW turbo alternators, totalling 23,500 kW. The surplus of revenue over expenses in 1923 was £129,659.{{Cite book|last=Electricity Commissioners|title=Electricity Supply - 1920-1923|publisher=HMSO|year=1925|location=London|pages=86–9, 320–25}}
Following pollution problems from the original chimneys a single tall brick chimney was constructed in 1937, dominating the area.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1044683&sort=4&search=all&criteria=power%20station&rational=q&recordsperpage=10&p=1&move=p&nor=361&recfc=0|title=Pastscapes: Stepney Power Station|website=Historic England|access-date=23 January 2020}} In 1956 it was reported that the first Brown-Riley coal pulveriser had been installed at Stepney power station and having been in operation for some time was working with satisfactory results.{{Cite news|title=John Brown and Company Limited|date=1 October 1956|work=The Times (page 15)}} At this time the equipment comprised: 1 × 34 MW Fraser & Chalmers-GEC; 1 × 19 MW Escher-Wyss-Oerlikon; 1 × 6.25 MW Escher-Wyss-Brown-Bovery; and 2 × 12.5 MW Metro-Vickers turbo-alternators.{{Cite book|editor-last=Garrett|editor-first=Frederick C. |title=Garke's Manual of Electricity Supply|publisher=Electrical Press|year=1959|location=London|pages=A-97, A-134}}
During its final decade of operation the station comprised a single 34 MW generator.CEGB Statistical Yearbook (various dates). CEGB, London. This was supplied with steam at a range of pressures and temperatures: 180/350 psi (12.4/24.1 bar) at 299/399/460 °C. The steam capacity of the boilers was 753,000 lb/hr (94.9 kg/s). The boilers comprised 3 × Stirling; 3 × Spearling; and 2 × Babcock & Wilcox. Electricity output from Stepney power station was as follows.{{Cite journal|title=British Power Stations operating at 31 December 1961|journal=Electrical Review|volume=1 June 1962|pages=931}}CEGB Annual Report and Accounts, various years
Stepney annual electricity output GWh.
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}The station continued generation until 1972 and has since been demolished. The coaling jetty in the river remains.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|London|Energy}}
- [https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathanbarker/2201687740/sizes/l/ Historic image on Flickr. Stepney Power Station on the right.]
{{London Powerstations}}
Category:Coal-fired power stations in England
Category:Former buildings and structures in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Category:Former power stations in London
Category:Demolished power stations in the United Kingdom