Portishead power station

Portishead power station
Portishead B Power Station awaiting demolition in 1989.
Map
CountryEngland
LocationSomerset, South West England
Coordinates51°29′28″N 2°45′18″W / 51.4912°N 2.7551°W / 51.4912; -2.7551
StatusDecommissioned and demolished
Construction beganA: 1926, B: 1949
Commission dateA: 1929, B: 1955
Decommission dateA: 1976, B: 1982
OwnerAs operator
OperatorsBristol Corporation Electricity Dept.
(1926–1948)
British Electricity Authority
(1948–1955)
Central Electricity Authority
(1955–1957)
Central Electricity Generating Board
(1958–1982)
Thermal power station
Primary fuelCoal
Tertiary fuelOil-fired
Chimneys2
Cooling towersNone
Cooling sourceSeawater
Power generation
Units operationalB: 6 × 60 MW
Make and modelB: Metropolitan-Vickers
Units decommissionedAll units decommissioned
Nameplate capacityA: 240 MW, B: 339 MW
Annual net outputB: 26.874 GWh (1980-81)
External links
CommonsRelated media on Commons

grid reference ST476771

Portishead Power Station refers to a series of two coal and oil-fired power stations which operated in the dock area of Portishead in Somerset, South West England, between 1929 and 1982.

The original coal-fired Portishead power station was built by Bristol Corporation's Electricity Department and started generating in 1929. It was later expanded, and renamed Portishead A Power Station after Portishead B Power Station opened in the early 1950s. The newer station had one-third of its boilers oil-fired and two-thirds coal-fired. Both power stations were later converted to fully oil-fired operation.

They closed in the late 1970s and early 1980s respectively, and the buildings and dock area were demolished and cleared. The site of the two power stations is now occupied by housing and the dock has become a marina.