Rochdale power station

Rochdale power station supplied electricity to the town of Rochdale, Lancashire from 1901 to the 1958. The coal-fired power station was owned and operated by Rochdale Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948. It was redeveloped as demand for electricity grew and old plant was replaced, and had an ultimate generating capacity of 10.7 MW in the 1920s. The station closed on 1 April 1958.

Rochdale power station
CountryEngland
LocationRochdale Lancashire
Coordinates53°36′53″N 02°09′58″W
StatusDecommissioned and demolished
Construction began1898
Commission date1901
Decommission date1958
Owner(s)Rochdale Corporation
(1900–1948)
British Electricity Authority
(1948–1955)
Central Electricity Authority
(1955–1957)
Central Electricity Generating Board
(1958)
Operator(s)As owner
Thermal power station
Primary fuelCoal
Turbine technologysteam turbines
Power generation
Units operational3 x 412 kW, 1 x 500 kW, 3 x 1000 kW, 2 x 3000 kW
Nameplate capacity10,736 kW (1923)
Annual net output31,000 MWh (1923)

History

In 1898 Rochdale 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. 6) Act 1898 (61 & 62 Vict. c. xcii).[1] The Corporation built a power station at the junction of Bridge Street (now Mellor Street) and Dane Street, Rochdale (53°36′53"N, 2°9′58″W)[2] adjacent to the River Roch, and first supplied electricity to the town in 1901.

The power station supplied electricity for the Rochdale Corporation Tramways which operated a tramway service from 1901 to 1932.

By 1923 the generating capacity of the station was 10,736 kW. The Central Electricity Board constructed the national grid (1927–33) to connect power stations and their electricity supply systems within a region.[3] The Rochdale system was connected to Lancashire Electric Power Company system in the mid-1920s.[4] Larger modern power stations could generate electricity more efficiently than relatively small local stations such as Rochdale.

Rochdale Corporation continued as the owner of the power station and electricity supply system until nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948.[5] Under nationalisation the Rochdale 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).[3] At the same time the electricity distribution and sales responsibilities of the Rochdale electricity undertaking were transferred to the Merseyside & North Wales Electricity Board (MANWEB).

The power station produced an income for the corporation. Revenue from sales of current was £184,870 (1922) and £179,480 (1923). The surplus of revenue over expenses £49,127 (1922) and £43,940 (1923).[6]

The power station continued to operate for another decade after nationalisation until it was closed on 1 April 1958[7] and was subsequently demolished. The site has been redeveloped with commercial premises.

Technical specification

By 1923 the generating plant comprised:[6]

  • Coal-fired boilers supplying 141,000 lb/h (17.8 kg/s) of steam to:
  • Generators

These machines had a total generating capacity of 10,736 kW, of which 1,736 kW was DC and 9,000 kW alternating current.[6]

Electricity supplies were available to consumers at:[6]

  • 3-phase 50 HZ AC at 400 and 230 V
  • DC at 440 and 220 volts
  • DC traction current 500 volts

The final use of electricity over the period 1921–23 was:[6]

Rochdale electricity use 1921–23
Electricity Use Units Year
1921 1922 1923
Lighting and domestic MWh 990 1,055 1,364
Public lighting MWh 22 20 66
Traction MWh 3,611 3,365 3,363
Power MWh 11,927 16,749 25,419
Bulk supply MWh 393 433 6,82
Total use MWh 16,944 21,622 30,894

The electricity system operating parameters were:[6]

Rochdale electricity system 1921–23
Operating Units Year
1921 1922 1923
Maximum load kW 9,796 13,785 15,440
Total connections kW 22,355 25,809 25,424
Load factor Per cent 23.7 20.6 25.6

In the year 1946 Rochdale power station supplied 996,865 MWh of electricity, the maximum load was 8,110 kW.[8]

See also

References
  1. "Local Act 1898". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  2. Ordnance Survey 25 inch England Lancashire LXXXVIII.4 (Rochdale), revised 1908, published 1910
  3. Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 45, 60, 69, 73. ISBN 085188105X.
  4. "Lancashire Electric Power Company system diagrams". Science Museum Group. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  5. "Electricity Act 1947". legislation.gov.uk.
  6. Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply – 1920–23. London: HMSO. pp. 74–77, 308–313.
  7. Garrett, Frederick C. (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-89.
  8. Electricity Commissioners (1947). Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 7.
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