Dolgelley power station

Dolgelley or Dolgellau power station was a combined diesel and hydroelectric generating station. It provided electricity to the town of Dolgellau, Gwynedd, Wales and the surrounding district from 1936 until the 1960s.

History

Dolgellau Urban District Council constructed a combined diesel engine and water-turbine electricity generating plant at Frongoch Dolgellau.[1] In 1936–7 the Electricity Commissioners had authorised the Council to obtain a loan of £4,979 for building work, the purchase of plant, the installation of mains, and the provision of customers’ meters.[2] Upon the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948 the Dolgellau power station was vested in the British Electricity Authority.[3] The power station was decommissioned in the 1960s.[4]

Power station owners

The owners and operators of the power station over its operational life were: Dolgellau Urban District Council (1935–48), British Electricity Authority](1948–55), Central Electricity Authority (1955–57), Central Electricity Generating Board (1958–70).[3]

Plant and equipment

The plant at Dolgellau power station comprised:[5]

  • One 66 kW Brush diesel engine set
  • One 29 kW Gilkes-Gordon water turbine set
  • One 53 kW Gilkes-Gordon water turbine set

The total generating capacity was 148 kW, the generating sets operated at 400 V alternating current.[5]

Operations

The operating conditions and electricity output of Dolgellau power station were:[6][5][7]

Dolgellau power station operating parameters 1946–67
Year Running hours Plant capacity kW Electricity sent out MWh Load factor per cent Thermal efficiency per cent
1946 – – 288.6 – –
1954 6157 148 637 69.9 –
1955 6706 148 682 68.8 –
1956 4682 148 441 63.6 –
1957 4118 148 346 56.8 –
1958 6657 148 476 48.3 –
1961 – 82 hydro + 66 diesel 211 16.3 28.14
1962 – 82 + 66 278 21.5 28.72
1963 – 82 + 66 242 27.63 27.86
1967 – 82 + 66 432 33.6 28.02

See also

References
  1. "Records of the Dolgellau Urban District Council, Electricity Department, 1935-1946, including sub-station record books, 1935-1945; and supply book counterfoils, 1937-1946". archives hub. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  2. Electricity Commissioners (1937). 17th Annual Report 1936 to 1937. London: HMSO. p. 122.
  3. Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 60, 69, 76. ISBN 085188105X.
  4. The station is included in the CEGB Annual Report for 1963 but not in the CEGB Statistical Yearbook 1972
  5. Garrett, Frederick C. (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-50, A-141.
  6. Electricity Commissioners (1947). Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 8.
  7. CEGB Annual report and Accounts, 1961, 1962 & 1963

52°44′12″N 3°52′35″W

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