'Standby' power station could be built in Wolverhampton
A ‘standby’ power plant could be built in Wolverhampton to cope with periods of increased demand.
The gas standby facility would be on land south east of Dixon Street and would take six to nine months to be built if the plans are accepted by Wolverhampton Council.
Applicant SWB has applied for the plant which would be in place for 25 years.
Agent Bethany Kington says in the application: “The engines will be switched on when called upon by the grid and will provide a standby energy facility during times when energy demand outstrips supply.
“The facility would only operate when called upon, to contribute to balancing frequency on the grid and reducing blackouts/ brownouts.
"At this grid-scale, standby power facilities are important for providing the electricity network with power and energy at short notice to help match supply with demand."
The plant is planned for undeveloped land within an industrial area, about 1.8km south-east of the city centre.
A new access would be created off Dixon Street.
The nearest residential properties to the application site are about 120m west of the site, off D’Uberville Road.
Ms Kington adds in the report: “Given the small scale of the development and the distance between the application site and the listed buildings, no adverse impacts are anticipated.
“The proposal would contribute to achieving national and local objectives, by supporting the transition to renewable energy.
“Small scale, fast-responding facilities such as that proposed can enable the national electricity system to meet demand without the need for new, large scale power generating facilities which can have much greater environmental and social impacts.”
The facility will be managed remotely once operational, so no staff will be based at the site, and the generators are expected to run for around 2,500 hours per year.
Two car parking spaces will be created if the plan is given the go ahead.
The application will be considered by Wolverhampton Council in the coming months.
If approved, construction would be restricted to 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 5pm on Saturdays.
