Towyn power station

Towyn power station was a combined oil engine and hydro-electric generating station in Wales. It provided electricity to the towns of Towyn (Tywyn) and Aberdovey (Aberdyfi) and the surrounding district from the 1930s to the 1960s.

History

Towyn, Aberdovey and District Electricity Company Limited built a combined oil engine and water-turbine electricity generating plant at Happy Valley Towyn.[1] Upon the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948 the Towyn power station was vested in the British Electricity Authority.[2] The power station was decommissioned in the 1960s.[3]

Power station owners

The owners of the power station over its operational life were: Towyn, Aberdovey and District Electricity Company Limited (until 1948), British Electricity Authority (1948–55), Central Electricity Authority (1955–57), Central Electricity Generating Board (from 1958).[2]

Plant and equipment

The plant at Towyn power station comprised:[1]

  • 5 × 183 kW oil engine sets, total capacity of 916 kW
  • 1 × 34 kW water turbine set

The total generating capacity was 950 kW, the generating sets operated at 380, 400 and 420 V.

  • In December 1951 a 400 kW English Electric diesel engine set was transferred from Aberystwyth power station.[1]

Operations

The operating conditions and electricity output of Towyn power station were:[1][4][5]

Towyn power station operating parameters 1946–63
Year Running hours Plant capacity kW Electricity sent out MWh Load factor per cent Thermal efficiency per cent
1946 – – 1,291 36.4 –
1954 6948 950 1,631 24.7 –
1955 5212 950 1,726 34.9 –
1956 4345 950 1,262 30.6 –
1957 1661 950 321 20.3 –
1958 3997 900 909 23.9 –
1961 – 574 119 1.5 27.72
1962 – 642 139 2.8 28.54
1963 – 642 521 11.9 29.19

See also

References
  1. Garrett, Frederick C. (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-101, A-144.
  2. Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 60, 69, 76. ISBN 085188105X.
  3. The station is included in the CEGB Annual Report for 1963 but not in the CEGB Statistical Yearbook 1972
  4. CEGB Annual report and Accounts, 1961, 1962 & 1963
  5. Electricity Commissioners (1947). Electricity Commissioners: Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 14.

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