Documenting the decline of coal and oil fired electricity generation in the UK
Documenting the decline of coal and oil fired electricity generation in the UK

Littlebrook D Power Station, Dartford, Kent

Littlebrook D Power Station, Dartford, Kent

Electricity has been generated at Littlebrook since 1939 when the first Littlebrook Power Station was commissioned by the Kent Electric Power Company. Littlebrook ‘D’, which commenced generating electricity in 1981, is the fourth power station to be built on the site and was oil fired. Fuel was delivered by seagoing tankers, offloaded at the river jetty and stored in tanks. Fuel from those tanks, as well as supplying Littlebrook ‘D’, was also transferred by river and road to other power stations in the South East.

Littlebrook D Power Station exterior
Littlebrook D Power Station exterior

Littlebrook ‘D’ Power Station was built by the Central Electricity Generating Board from 1977 onwards with the first unit commissioned in 1981. The station was designed as a fuel oil fired station from the beginning – the diversification of fuel supplies being adopted by the CEGB in the 1970s.

An aerial view showing how the plan translates to real life​
An aerial view showing how the plan translates to real life​

The ‘D’ station incorporated the latest 660 MW, 4-cylinder re-heat turbines running at 3000rev/min with each turbine output therefore being larger than the combined output of the previous A, B and C stations! The turbine output was increased to 685 MW during commissioning with practically no additional engineering works required which is testament to the robust design standards rigorously upheld by the CEGB.

The turbines were designed to be flexible in operation with fast responses to changes in required output. There are also 3 gas turbine units manufactured by GEC capable of 35 MW each which are capable of starting up the station should there be a complete collapse of the grid system.

Buildings and Plant Detail

Littlebrook D TurbinesTurbine Hall

Littlebrook had 3 x 685MW turbine-generator sets manufactured by GEC

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Littlebrook D BoilersBoiler House

The three boilers at Littlebrook were oil-fired.

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Littlebrook D Control RoomControl Room

The control room at Littlebrook has been refitted with a computerised system

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Littlebrook D Workshops and AdminWorkshops & Admin

The admin block contained the workshops, labs, canteen and bathhouse

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FredFacility for Reactor Engineering and Development (FRED)

Nuclear training and development facility in the ‘A’ and ‘B’ stations

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Littlebrook Image Gallery

Visit the plant detail pages above to view more images from each area of the power plant


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