Green light for power plant in Wales

23 February, 2011 SSE will build an 870 megawatt gas-fired power station.

Energy minister Charles Hendry has given the go-ahead for Scottish and Southern Electricity (SSE) to build a power plant in Port Talbot in Wales.

Plans will see an 870 megawatt gas-fired power station constructed at the Baglan Bay Energy Park.

Once complete, it will have the potential to provide electricity to 1.4 million homes in the area, as well as create new jobs.

"Gas is the cleanest and most reliable fossil fuel and it will continue to be a central part in the country's energy mix during the transition to a low carbon economy," Mr Hendry said.

"Long-term there is also a major opportunity for gas power stations like this to be fitted with abatement technology. This station will be built carbon capture ready, which means that eventually CO2 produced by the plant could be captured and transported for storage offshore."

Mr Hendry has also given the utility firm consent to retrofit its coal plant in Warrington with a selective catalytic reduction plant, in order to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.
 

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