Project status
- Project Design
- Community Consultation
- Planning Application Submission
- Planning Application Decision
- Construction
- Operational
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Where
Blackpool
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What
Gas Peaking Plant
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Network Connection Capacity
20 MW
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Equivalent household power use
40,000 homes at full power
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Annual CO2 emissions saved
Switching from coal to gas for electricity generation reduces CO2 by 50%
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Targeted Operational Date
2019
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Project Development Size
1.2 acres
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Project Lifespan
20 years
Bipsham is a small-scale gas-fired power plant built on what was the TVR car factory in Blackpool, England. The site began operation in 2019 as part of the UK’s transition to a low carbon electricity network which saw coal-fired plants replaced by cleaner gas-fired power stations. In 2012 coal-fired power plants generated 40% of the UK’s electricity, in 2021 this was reduced to just 2%.
Bipsham is a gas peaking plant that generates electricity to supplement renewable energy from wind and solar farms to balance electricity supply with household and business demand. Bispham Flexible Generation operates for around 2,000 hours annually as part of its UK Capacity Market obligation to supply back-up power to the network.
Gas peaking plants, like Bisham, have played an important role in ensuring security of energy supply as the UK has replaced controllable coal-fired generation with weather dependent renewable energy sources.
In the future this network balancing role will largely be achieved with battery energy storage.
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