Q1. What is a CCGT power plant?

A1. Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power generation is currently the most energy efficient and clean method of fossil fuel power generation. The plant uses natural gas to generate electricity and as part of this process the waste heat that is produced is also used to generate electricity, making a CCGT plant highly cost effective and efficient.

Q2. Why choose Blythe Park as a site for a gas-fired power plant?

A2. In 2008, National Grid identified Staffordshire as a county that would benefit from new investment in power generation.  As a result Blythe Park Power investigated a number of sites in the county and identified the site near Cresswell as the most suitable given its access to the electricity and gas transmission networks and the availability of land.

Q3. Are you consulting the local community about your plans?

A3. Yes. We have shared our plans with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and Staffordshire County Council, as well as a large number of other local and national statutory consultees (for example, Natural England, the Environment Agency and Highways Agency).

In August, we held a two day public exhibition for local people to meet the BPP team and learn more about the project, and we have been in touch with Parish Councils and local residents on an individual basis.  We plan to host another exhibition in the New Year.

Q4. When will a decision be made on the power station being built?

A4. In October 09, Blythe Park Power submitted a planning application to the Department of Energy & Climate Change for permission to build the power station.  No separate planning permission is required from Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) but the council does however remain a statutory consultee to DECC’s decision-making process and their views, along with the views of the local community, will play an important part in the final decision.    We would hope to have a decision from DECC within the next 6-8 months.

Q5. Will the local community benefit from the power station?

A5. It’s a £400m power station and so it will make a significant contribution to the local economy (see Project Benefits section). We expect a good number of local companies to be involved during the construction phase and expect local service companies to secure contracts once the station is open for commercial operation.  In addition, local shops, pubs and hotels will benefit from the influx of people to build the plant, and importantly there will be around 70-80 people employed on a full time and long-term basis.

Also, BPP is committed to supporting community initiatives in the areas of education, the environment and energy.

Q6. When will the power station be constructed?

A6. Subject to planning and financing. Blythe Park Power is targeted to start construction in 2011.

Q7. How much electricity will the plant generate?

A7. The plant will have the capacity to generate 950MW of electricity, sufficient to provide the energy needs of 1.8 million homes (assuming an average household consumption of 4700 kWh, as recommended by the British Wind Energy Association).

Q8. What about the environmental impact? Are gas-fired power stations noisy and smelly?  What about air quality and emissions?

A8. Under normal operation, a gas-fired plant operates at a low-level of noise and the noise should not be heard outside the boundaries of the plant. As it burns natural gas there is no smell.  There will be emissions from the plant but they have a minimal environmental impact and will be strictly regulated by the Environment Agency and will be monitored by SMDC. They are similar to the gases emitted from a gas stove in a kitchen, except that the combustion is under better control in the power plant and the emissions are therefore smaller.

Q9. What steps would be taken to minimise disturbance to Cresswell and the surrounding area during construction?

A9. In consultation with SMDC and Staffordshire County Council, a traffic plan would be put in place to ensure that lorry movements are strictly controlled and more than likely a park and ride scheme will be operated for the workforce during the period of construction. In addition, we would have strict guidelines for noise, hours of working, suppression of dust and dirt, waste management etc.

 
Q10. What about the station’s visual impact on the local countryside?

A10. Gas-fired power stations are large pieces of kit and so it can’t entirely be hidden from view.  However, we have offered to  reduced the height of the chimney stacks from the 55 m in our original plans to 45 m and given the site’s profile in comparison with the surrounding area we consider the visual impact to be appropriate for the vast majority of people living and working in the area.

Q11. How secure and safe will the plant be?

A11. During both the construction and operation of the plant, strict HSE heath and safety regulations would be enforced to minimise the potential of accidents at work. In addition, entry and exit to the site would be strictly controlled.

Q12. Why is gas seen as secure when the UK has to import it from countries such as Russia and Algeria?

A12. The UK is sourcing its gas supplies from a number of different countries and regions of the world including Norway, Russia, the Middle East and the Far East.  Given this country diversity, the UK energy industry is able to source gas on a long-term basis. Recent new developments in extracting natural gas from ‘tight’ rocks have proven very successful. There are areas of the world, where there is gas in ‘tight’ rocks, areas which are not currently gas producers. This will open up competition in gas supplies and avoid potential ‘monopoly’ situations.

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