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

Rugeley B Power Station, Staffordshire

Rugeley B Power Station, Staffordshire

The Rugeley power stations were a series of two coal-fired power stations located on the River Trent at Rugeley in Staffordshire. Construction of the first power station at the site, Rugeley ‘A’ station started in 1956 and station’s generating sets were commissioned between 1961 and 1962.

Rugeley A and B, with Lea Hall Colliery in the foreground
Rugeley A and B, with Lea Hall Colliery in the foreground

The ‘A’ station took coal directly from the neighbouring Lea Hall Colliery by conveyor belt. The colliery was put into production some 6 months before the first generating unit was commissioned in the power station. This was the first joint venture between the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) and the National Coal Board (NCB). The Lea Hall colliery was closed on 24 January 1991, meaning all coal burned in the stations needed to be delivered by rail.

Rugeley B cooling towrs and power station
Rugeley B cooling towrs and power station

Construction of Rugeley ‘B’ power station began in 1965, with completion of the station in 1972. It had an output of 1,000 megawatts (MW) and had a 400 kilovolt (kV) connection to the national grid. With both stations in operation, 850 people were employed at the stations in 1983.

The two stations were initially operated by the Central Electricity Generating Board, but following privatisation in 1990, were handed over to National Power. In July 1996 the Rugeley B power station was bought by Eastern Generation, itself acquired by TXU Europe. Rugeley B was subsequently sold to International Power plc in July 2001. It remains under the same ownership, though International Power later merged with GDF Suez in 2011.

Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) Plant and new chimney
Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) Plant and new chimney

Construction of a Flue Gas Desulfurization plant started in early 2007 and it was commissioned at the B station in 2009. This allowed the station to comply with environmental legislation in force at the time and continue generating electricity.

In February 2016 it was announced that the power station would close in the summer of 2016. An announcement by owners, Engie blamed a deterioration in market conditions which included a fall in market prices and increasing carbon costs. Rugeley Power Station ceased all operations on Wednesday 8 June 2016. Decommissioning began in June 2016. All buildings and structures on site have now been demolished.

Buildings and Plant Detail

Rugeley B TurbinesTurbine Hall

Rugeley B had 2 x 500MW turbine-generator sets manufactured by Parsons

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Rugeley B Boilers, Mills and Coal PlantBoiler House and Coal Processing

The boiler house contains the two coal-fired boilers fed from the coal plant

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Rugeley B Control RoomControl Room

The control room at Rugeley B had been refitted with APMS

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Rugeley B Workshops and AdminWorkshops & Admin

The admin block, workshops, canteen and bathhouse

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Rugeley B Image Gallery

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

Documents and Schematics

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