Dash for Gas

The Dash for Gas was the 1990s shift by the newly privatized companies in the electricity sector of the United Kingdom towards generation of electricity using natural gas. Gas consumption peaked in 2001 and has been in decline since 2010.

UK gas production, consumption, and net exports to 2015

The key reasons for this shift were: (a) political: The privatization of the UK electricity industry in 1990; the regulatory change that allowed gas to be used as a fuel for power generation; (b) economic: the high interest rates of the time, which favoured gas turbine power stations, which were quick to build, over coal and nuclear power stations, which were larger but slower to build; the decline in wholesale gas prices; the desire by the regional electricity companies to diversify their sources of electricity supply and establish a foothold in the profitable generation market; (c) technical: advances in electricity generation technology (specifically combined cycle gas turbine generators (CCGT) with higher relative efficiencies and lower capital costs. An underpinning factor in the dash for gas was the recent development of North Sea gas.

In 1990, gas turbine power stations made up 5% of the UK's generating capacity. By 2002, the new CCGT power stations made up 28% UK generating capacity; gas turbines accounted for a further 2%. It is estimated the Dash for Gas cost £11bn.[1]

Gas-fired power stations with more than 30 MW installed capacity commissioned between 1990 and 2002 are listed below.[2]

Year of commission or year generation began Power Station Name Installed capacity, MW Location (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, or English region) Date of mothballing/ closure
1991Roosecote Power Station229 (before being mothballed in March 2012 pending demolition by spring 2015)[3]North West England2012
1992Teesside Power Station1875[4] (45 MW from OCGT after mothballing most of the power station in 2011 [5])North East England2011 (partial - mothballed)
1993Glanford Brigg Power Station260Yorkshire and the Humber
1993Killingholme B power station900Yorkshire and the Humber
1993Peterborough Power Station405East of England
1993Rye House Power Station715East of England
1993Corby Power Station401East Midlands
1994Killingholme A power station665Yorkshire and the Humber
1994Keadby Power Station749Yorkshire and the Humber
1994Barking Power Station1000London
1994Derwent Power Station228East Midlands
1994Deeside Power Station500Wales
1994Knapton Power Station40Yorkshire and the Humber
1995Charterhouse St Power Station31London
1995Fellside Power Station180North West England
1995Little Barford Power Station665East of England
1995Medway Power Station688South East England
1996Connah's Quay Power Station1380Wales
1996South Humber Bank Power Station1285Yorkshire and the Humber
1996Kings Lynn Power Station340East of England
1998Barry Power Station230Wales
1998Didcot B Power Station1430South East England
1998Rocksavage Power Station810North West England
1998Thornhill Power Station50Yorkshire and the Humber
1998Seabank 1 Power Station812South West England
1999Cottam Development Centre390East Midlands
1999Sutton Bridge Power Station819East Midlands
1999Enfield Power Station408London
1999Sandbach Power Station50North West England
2000Damhead Creek Power Station800South East England
2000Salt End Power Station1200Yorkshire and the Humber
2000Seabank 2 Power Station410South West England
2000Shoreham Power Station400South East England
2000Fife Power Station123 (before closed in March 2011)Scotland2011
2001Coryton Power Station753East of England
2001Great Yarmouth Power Station420East of England
2001Shotton Power Station45Wales
2002Baglan Bay Power Station510Wales
2002Castleford Power Station56Yorkshire and the Humber

References
  1. Estimate from Climate Change Capital analysis, quoted in 'Unlocking investment to deliver Britain’s low carbon future: report by the Green Investment Bank Commission. June 2010
  2. Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics; Table 5.11: Power stations in the United Kingdom, May 2011
  3. http://www.centricaenergy.com/news-roosecote-demolition
  4. Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics; Table 5.11: Power stations in the United Kingdom, May 2004
  5. http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/around-100-jobs-jeopardy-teesside-4438128
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