Plans for a new gas-powered power station have been unveiled in Gwynedd to help cope with the loss of Britain’s coal powered plants.

The proposals, having been submitted to Gwynedd Council, would see a new 10MW fast response generation plant near the former Book People warehouse at Parc Menai, Bangor.

It follows similar plants being earmarked for Holyhead, Caernarfon and Porthmadog, with developers planning to help fill the void left by the demise of coal-fired power stations by supplying the national grid.

According to Nod Power Limited, while the UK Government is trying to fill this void with renewable sources, back-up providers are also needed due to renewables like solar and wind often being dependent upon weather patterns.

This plant, like the others already approved, would only kick-in when demand dictates and supplied by underground pipe via the national gas main system, meaning that no deliveries would be needed.

The supporting documents note, “As there is no demand for the plant to be operated as a base load plant, the gensets will stand idle until a demand requirement.

“On demand the gensets will initiate their start-up and within approximately two minutes reach peak generation export capacity of ~10MW.

“The plant can be turned down and respond to multiple start-up/shut-down cycles, thereby providing the flexibility required to provide the services for balancing the grid network

“With experience of running these facilities the gensets would typically run for an average of ~3500 hours a year. Typically, at the periods of high electricity demand, most commonly during the evening hours, rarely at night and weekends.

“The most common peak demand periods occur between 16.30 and 21.00. However, the plant will be available for generation on receipt of a signal from National Grid at any time of day or night and any day of the week.” 

Its proposed that the plant would create two full-time permanent jobs as well as another ten during the construction phase.

Marking another step in the UK Government’s bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 and to phase out coal completely by 2025, Britain now has just four coal-powered stations following the closure of Aberthaw in the Vale of Glamorgan – the last such facility in Wales.

According to the applicants the site in question, to the rear of the former Book People warehouse, would have no impact on any future use of the site.

The site employed 229 workers until the company went into administration a week before Christmas 2019, being later wound down.

Its expected that Gwynedd Council’s planning department will consider the application over the coming months.