New infrastructure that could use waste vegetable oil to provide enough energy to cover an emergency ‘72-hour blackout’ is being proposed at Spalding Power Station.
The Spalding Energy Company Ltd, which runs the West Marsh Road facility, has applied for approval to build three new generators each with 120,000 litre fuel tanks and transformers.
The application for a Lawful Use certificate states it is ‘only intended to be operated during emergency situations, in the event that Spalding Power Station loses power’.
The application has been submitted working with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and is required to be installed, commissioned and operational by the end of this year as part of its new Grid Code.
The documents state: “On the Spalding Power Station site, the system (the proposed development) will take the form of a diesel generator set, located externally within an acoustic enclosure, which can withstand a 72-hour blackout in compliance with the latest issue of the Grid Code.
“Notably, the proposed generators would be able to run on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as well as diesel, or a blend of the two.
“HVO is a sustainable, drop-in diesel alternative that reduces net greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 per cent compared to fossil diesel.
“Made from waste products, it offers cleaner combustion with up to 30 per cent fewer particulate matters and 27 per cent fewer emissions, directly improving air quality without requiring engine modifications.”
It continues: “The proposed development is only intended to be used as back-up equipment during emergency situations, such as in the unlikely event that Spalding Power Station loses power for an extended period due to a blackout on the National Grid.
“In this instance, the generators will be used for a maximum period of 72 hours (the NESO requirement) whilst the grid is restored by NESO before being switched off or running out of fuel.
“There will also be maintenance testing once per month to ensure the generators are working, however, this is likely to only take 15 minutes.
“The generators will be switched off in all other scenarios.”
