Barking Power Station
Encyclopedia
Barking Power Station refers to a series of power stations at former and current sites within the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
in east London. The original power station site, of the coal-fired A, B and C stations, was at River Road, Creekmouth
, on the north bank of the River Thames
. These stations were decommissioned by the end of the 1980s and have since been demolished. The current gas-fired power station (originally generally known as Barking Reach Power Station) was built further down the Thames near Dagenham Dock
in the early 1990s.
had operated its own small power station near to their offices since 1897. This station operated until 1927. The County of London Electric Supply Company applied for permission to build a power station capable of expansion to 600,000 kilowatts, at Barking in 1920. They opened Barking Power Station at Creekmouth
in 1925. In 1927 it took over from the Barking Urban District Council station, to provide a bulk electricity supply. When completed the A station was the largest power station in Britain to be built as a complete station at one time.
The site it was built upon was chosen for easy delivery of coal from the Thames and by rail, as well as the abundant water supply and space on the site for expansion. A cable tunnel was constructed under the river to supply the south bank with electricity.
in 1948. The B station closed on 15 March 1976 with a generating capacity of 144 megawatts.
built a third station at Creekmouth, which was completed in 1954. The station was closed on 26 October 1981 with a generating capacity of 220 MW. All three stations have since been demolished.
, to the west of Dagenham Breach and the Ford motor works. The station was constructed between 1992 and 1995 and was the first major generating station to be built in London for many years. It is one of the largest independently-owned generating plants in the UK, being capable of generating 1000MW of electricity, which is about 2% of the peak electricity demand in England and Wales.
The station uses Combined Cycle Gas Turbine
technology, with gas as its primary fuel. The station is owned by Barking Power Limited but is operated and managed by Thames Power Services.
Unlike the Creekmouth stations, the Dagenham station is located some distance back from the river.
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 1,937; and the area was characterised by farming, woodland and the fishing fleet at Barking. This last industry employed 1,370 men and boys by 1850, but by the end of the century had ceased to exist; replaced by...
in east London. The original power station site, of the coal-fired A, B and C stations, was at River Road, Creekmouth
Creekmouth
-External links:**...
, on the north bank of the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
. These stations were decommissioned by the end of the 1980s and have since been demolished. The current gas-fired power station (originally generally known as Barking Reach Power Station) was built further down the Thames near Dagenham Dock
Dagenham Dock
Dagenham Dock is a place in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in London, England. It is located to the south of Dagenham and on the River Thames. It was once the site of a large coaling port and continues to be the location of a small terminal licensed to handle coal off-loading...
in the early 1990s.
Barking A power station
Prior to the construction of Barking A Power Station, Barking Urban District CouncilMunicipal Borough of Barking
Barking was a local government district in south west Essex, England from 1882 to 1965. It included the town of Barking, eastern Beckton and the south western part of the Becontree estate. The district was within the Metropolitan Police District and experienced a steady increase in population...
had operated its own small power station near to their offices since 1897. This station operated until 1927. The County of London Electric Supply Company applied for permission to build a power station capable of expansion to 600,000 kilowatts, at Barking in 1920. They opened Barking Power Station at Creekmouth
Creekmouth
-External links:**...
in 1925. In 1927 it took over from the Barking Urban District Council station, to provide a bulk electricity supply. When completed the A station was the largest power station in Britain to be built as a complete station at one time.
The site it was built upon was chosen for easy delivery of coal from the Thames and by rail, as well as the abundant water supply and space on the site for expansion. A cable tunnel was constructed under the river to supply the south bank with electricity.
Barking B power station
Barking's original 'A' station was extended by the building of 'B' station, which began to operate at full capacity in 1939. The power station was transferred to the London Division of the British Electricity AuthorityBritish Electricity Authority
The British Electricity Authority was established in 1948 with the nationalisation of the Great Britain's electricity supply industry. It was created by means of the Electricity Act 1947...
in 1948. The B station closed on 15 March 1976 with a generating capacity of 144 megawatts.
Barking C power station
The British Electricity AuthorityBritish Electricity Authority
The British Electricity Authority was established in 1948 with the nationalisation of the Great Britain's electricity supply industry. It was created by means of the Electricity Act 1947...
built a third station at Creekmouth, which was completed in 1954. The station was closed on 26 October 1981 with a generating capacity of 220 MW. All three stations have since been demolished.
Barking Reach power station
The current station is at Chequers Lane in DagenhamDagenham
Dagenham is a large suburb in East London, forming the eastern part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and located east of Charing Cross. It was historically an agrarian village in the county of Essex and remained mostly undeveloped until 1921 when the London County Council began...
, to the west of Dagenham Breach and the Ford motor works. The station was constructed between 1992 and 1995 and was the first major generating station to be built in London for many years. It is one of the largest independently-owned generating plants in the UK, being capable of generating 1000MW of electricity, which is about 2% of the peak electricity demand in England and Wales.
The station uses Combined Cycle Gas Turbine
Combined cycle
In electric power generation a combined cycle is an assembly of heat engines that work in tandem off the same source of heat, converting it into mechanical energy, which in turn usually drives electrical generators...
technology, with gas as its primary fuel. The station is owned by Barking Power Limited but is operated and managed by Thames Power Services.
Unlike the Creekmouth stations, the Dagenham station is located some distance back from the river.