Sutton Coldfield power station

Sutton Coldfield power station supplied electricity to the town of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham (then part of Warwickshire) from 1901 to 1959. The electricity generating station was owned and operated by Sutton Coldfield Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948. It was closed in 1959 when it had a generating capacity of 1.0 MW.

Sutton Coldfield power station
CountryEngland
LocationSutton Coldfield
Coordinates52°33′46″N 01°48′58″W
StatusDecommissioned
Construction began1899
Commission date1901
Decommission date1959
Owner(s)Sutton Coldfield Corporation
(1899–1948)
British Electricity Authority
(1948–1955)
Central Electricity Authority
(1955–1957)
Central Electricity Generating Board
(1958–1959)
Operator(s)As owner
Thermal power station
Primary fuelCoal
Turbine technologySteam and reciprocating engines
Chimneys1 (150 feet)
Power generation
Units operational1 x 150 kW, 1 x 275 kW, 1 x 450 kW
Nameplate capacity1 MW
Annual net output3,277 MWh (1946)

History

In 1899 Sutton Coldfield Corporation applied for a Provisional Order under the Electric Lighting Acts to generate and supply electricity to the town. This was granted by the Board of Trade and was confirmed by Parliament through the Electric Lighting Orders Confirmation (No. 1) Act 1899 (62 & 63 Vict. c. xxxiv).[1] The Corporation bought for £650 the old gas works site, at the intersection of Coleshill Road and Riland Road, Sutton Coldfield (52°33'46"N 1°48'58"W),[2] and built a power station which first supplied electricity to the town in 1901.[3] The initial system had a generating capacity of 350 kW and supplied 12 arc lights and 108 incandescent bulbs and was capable of supplying 10,000 private lamps.[3]

Sutton Coldfield Corporation owned the power station and electricity supply system until nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948.[4] Under nationalisation the Sutton Coldfield electricity undertaking was abolished, ownership of the power station was vested in the British Electricity Authority, and subsequently the Central Electricity Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB).[5] At the same time the electricity distribution and sales responsibilities of the Sutton Coldfield electricity undertaking were transferred to the Midlands Electricity Board (MEB).

The power station continued to operate for a decade after nationalisation until it was closed in 1959.[6]

Technical specification

By 1923 the generating plant comprised:[7]

  • Coal-fired boilers supplying 24,000 lb/h (3.02 kg/s) of steam to:
  • Generators:
    • 1 × 150 kW reciprocating engines and direct current generator sets
    • 1 × 275kW reciprocating engine and DC generator sets
    • 1 × 450 kW reciprocating engine and DC generator set

These machines had a total generating capacity of 875 kW.[7]

Electricity supplies were available to consumers at 480 and 240 Volts DC

Operations

The end use of electricity over the period 1921–23 was:[7]

Sutton Coldfield electricity use 1921–23
Electricity Use Units Year
1921 1922 1923
Lighting and domestic MWh 507 487 545
Public lighting MWh 153 153 159
Traction MWh 0 0 0
Power MWh 352 329 355
Bulk supply MWh 0 0 0
Total use MWh 1,012 970 1,059

The operating parameters of the electricity system were:[7]

Sutton Coldfield electricity system 1921–23
Operating Units Year
1921 1922 1923
Maximum load kW 603 629 683
Total connections kW 2,440 2,574 2,772
Load factor Per cent 23.3 21.5 21.5

Revenue from sales of current was £19,610 (1922) and £19,977 (1923). The surplus of revenue over expenses £6,467 (1922) and £9,401 (1923).[7]

In 1946 the station generated 3,277 MWh, an adjacent waste destructor generated 228 MWh. The combined output from both stations was 3451MWh. The maximum load sent out that year was 1071 MW, and the load factor was 39.5 per cent.[8]

The power station building still exists and has been redeveloped with commercial premises.

See also

References
  1. "Local Acts 1899". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  2. Ordnance Survey 6- inch England. Staffordshire LXIV (includes: Shenstone; Sutton Coldfield.), revised 1912 to 1913, published 1920.
  3. Howells, Alan. "Electricity comes to Sutton Coldfield" (PDF). Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  4. "Electricity Act 1947". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  5. Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 17, 45, 60, 69, 73. ISBN 085188105X.
  6. Garrett, Frederick (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-99.
  7. Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply – 1920–23. London: HMSO. pp. 90–93, 320–325.
  8. Electricity Commissioners (1947). Electricity Commissioners Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 14.
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