Our operations

FAQs

Will there be visible emissions each time the power station is in use?

No. Once the plant is fully commissioned, there will be virtually no visible emissions from the power station. The emissions from the initial firing of the turbine were made up for the most part of condensation steam. Within this, there was a small quantity of preservation oil, paint and dust particles which we would expect to burn off from new machinery as it is run for the first time. Of its type, Langage is the cleanest and most efficient power station in the UK.

Will there be a noticeable odour from the power station in future?

Once the power station is fully commissioned, there will be no detectable odour. The reason for any odour which was noticeable from the initial firing of the gas turbine was due to the burn off of a small quantity of oil, paint and dust particles which had built up on the components being tested. These rapidly burn off and once the turbines have been ‘run in’, there will no longer be any detectable odour.

Do you plan to inform the public of future tests?

Centrica is very sorry for any distress and inconvenience it caused during the initial firing of the power station’s gas turbine. Centrica and its main engineering, procurement and construction partner, Alstom, will work closely with all the relevant local authorities to ensure they are aware of our testing schedule. However, due to the complex nature of the commissioning process we cannot always predict when testing will take place. We will make every effort to ensure the general public is informed going forward, including liaison with local media.

What did the emissions from the power station test contain?

It was a combination of materials but we wish to stress that this was not a health hazard. The plume comprised steam, dust, oil and paint particles. Any residual materials which were present during the manufacturing process were burned away or vaporised.

When will the commissioning phase finish?

The commissioning phase will continue over the coming weeks and we expect the plant to be fully operational by the end of 2009.

Just because I can’t see any emissions, how can I be sure that the plant is safe? What will the emissions comprise in future?

Centrica has an exemplary record in running seven other gas fired power stations throughout the UK. The emissions from gas fired power stations pose no hazard whatsoever to the public, indeed 40% of the UK’s power is generated by gas fired power stations. This power plant has been designed and built to be the cleanest, most efficient gas fired power station of its kind in the UK. The vast majority of the emissions from the plant’s exhaust stack will be water vapour. The extremely visible emissions and odour produced by the initial turbine tests are not typical of how the plant will operate in future.

Who will operate the plant?

Centrica will operate the plant, using its own employees. We have also awarded a long-term operations and maintenance agreement to Alstom.

What experience does Centrica have of operating power stations?

Centrica Energy has the largest fleet of gas-fired turbines used in combined cycle power stations in the UK. We operate seven power stations in the north-west of England, east of England and south Wales.

We also have experience of offshore gas production, gas storage, onshore gas processing operations and wind farm development.

What about the Langage Energy Park?

The Langage Energy Park is a separate development owned by Carlton Power.

How much will Langage cost to build?

The project is expected to cost approximately £400m.

How many jobs will Langage provide?

We expect Langage to provide employment opportunities for local people. We estimate around 50 permanent positions will be available, as well as an average of 300 development jobs, rising to around 850 during the peak construction period in Summer 2008.

What benefits will the plant bring to the region?

The South West has little existing generation capacity. An operational power station in the region will reduce the requirement for power imported from the rest of the country and will cut transmission losses – the energy wasted getting power to the area.  Langage could supply the annual needs of over one million local homes.

The plant will also improve the UK's security of supply as existing coal and nuclear power stations come to the end of their lives in the next few years.

It is estimated that, by 2015, the UK's power generation margin (the amount of excess power stations available to meet demand) will have shrunk. If consumers keep on using electricity at the rate they do today, we will need more power in the future. Gas-fired plants, as the cleanest fossil fuel generation, are the most practical medium-term solution, given the long lead time to develop new nuclear power stations, and complement renewable sites.

The power station project also underpins the development of the Langage Energy Park.

Will this mean lower bills for the region?

At the time of writing (Spring 2008), the UK has seen large increases in the wholesale price of both gas and electricity. These prices are likely to remain high due a variety of interconnected factors, not least the UK’s increasing reliance on imported gas. Most energy companies, including, British Gas have had to pass on these rising costs in the form of higher retail prices, although in 2007, British Gas was the only supplier to pass through two retail price cuts following a brief dip in wholesale gas and electricity prices.

Building Langage means that the cost of transporting electricity to the region will be lower once the plant is online. However, it is likely that the current high wholesale prices will offset this benefit. It is down to individual suppliers as to how they incorporate lower transmission costs for customers' bills. Transmission costs are simply one small element of the overall bill.

What about disruption?

As with any project of this scale, there will inevitably be some disruption during the development stage.

We aim to keep disruption to a minimum and ask all local residents to bear with us during this phase of work.

We anticipate that disruption should now be kept to a minimum now the major components of the power station are in place. We had to close Holland Road adjacent to the site temporarily during the construction phase but this has now re-opened.

The plan was approved by the Highways Agency and Devon County Council.

We are also working with South Hams district council to improve local cycleways and footpaths.

When completed, these improvements will link Plympton to the new Energy Centre and the adjacent Langage Energy Park, and the existing local industrial area. The cycleways will also link into the national cycleways network adjacent to the A38.

The work started on 31 March 2008 and will be carried out in short sections to minimise local disruption and will last a total of approximately 16 weeks. The contractor will be Bardon Contracting, based in Exeter.

Will you be meeting with the local community as work progresses?

Yes, definitely. We want to ensure that we are able to discuss the clear benefits of this project and also explain Centrica's strong reputation through our other asset operations.

We publicise events through the local media and provide information at Local Liaison Committee meetings. We are also publishing frequent newsletters which are distributed throughout the local community via the local press.

One example of our community liaison is our involvement with Sparkwell Parish Hall. Centrica has committed a significant sum to help improve the hall, which plays an important role in serving Sparkwell as a vital and well-used center for varied local interest groups.

Why has the power station been built here in Langage?

The South West historically has very little electricity generation capacity. Construction of the power station here reduces our reliance on imported electricity from across the National Grid, thereby reducing losses through transmission. Construction at Langage will therefore increase efficiency of the National Grid’s transmission system.

Centrica is committed to investing in new power generating assets across the UK. The UK is facing significant challenges in ensuring it has enough power to meet demand and these challenges will intensify over the coming years. Many of the country’s power generating assets will soon be due for retirement so we must ensure that they are replaced while also being able to meet additional demand going forward.

What is happening at the moment?

Construction of the power station is moving into its final phase. The major components of the power station (the generators, the turbines and the transformers) are in place and we are completing work on the air cooled condensers and the exhaust stack. Construction is entering its most intense phase and during the summer months there will be over 800 full time contracted staff on site.

When will the plant be finished?

The actual construction will be completed later this year. The plant will commence exporting power to the National Grid in the first quarter of 2009.

When will the power station actually start producing electricity?

We will conduct several tests towards the end of 2008 to ensure that the power station is operational. It will start exporting power to the National Grid in the first quarter of 2009.

Will I be able to hear the power station when it is in operation?

We are working to ensure that the power station does not contribute significantly to background noise levels more that the existing industrial development at Langage. Langage has been constructed with environmental impact in mind taking into account its impact on the actual landscape, sound levels and the emissions it generates.

Will the power station be on all the time?

This will vary and we can’t say exactly when it will be on and for how long. All power stations of this kind take their cue to switch on from the energy commodity markets which trade energy. At one time it may be more efficient for us to produce electricity from another power station in which case Langage will be on standby. However, when given the go ahead, we will be able to commence exporting electricity to the National Grid within a maximum of four hours of receiving instruction to switch on.

I’m worried about CO₂ emissions because Langage is gas fired. Will the power station have a detrimental effect on the environment locally?

Of its kind, Langage is the most efficient plant in the UK and will have a significantly smaller Carbon Footprint than other gas fired power stations.

We have also worked hard to landscape the site carefully to minimise its visual impact from the surrounding areas.

Centrica has the lowest carbon footprint of all the UK’s major energy suppliers and we are investing in a range of power generating assets in order to contribute to the Government’s emissions reduction targets. British Gas also has the UK’s most widely adopted programme for helping consumers reduce their carbon footprint. For further information, please go to www.britishgas.co.uk/energyefficiency.

How can I find out more?

Key milestones on the project will be previewed in the local media, through this website or through the Local Liaison Committee meetings. We also publish frequent newsletters which are distributed to the local community via the local press.