Request ID: FOI-1647-2324 Date published: 05 September 2023
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
I would like to receive up-to-date information on the power output of Greenwich Power Station, which I believe is owned by TfL for use for the London Underground.
If possible, it would be very interesting to know
1) the electricity generated per month from 2021 to date
2) the type of turbine used and fuel being burned for the production of electricity from 2021 to date
3) the number of times per month that the turbines have been switched on from 2021 to date
4) what contract is currently in place between tfl and the national grid for the greenwich power station and where can i find details of such contract
5) given the huge redevelopment of the area in the last 10 years thousands of new homes have been built nearby, recently there has been an extraordinary increase in the amount of times the turbines are switched on which has had a significant impact in local air quality, has tfl taken any steps to measure local air quality on a regular basis and keep it in accordance to acceptable levels for a residential area and uk law if yes can you provide data of readings since 2021 to date
We answered
Our ref: FOI-1647-2324/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 18 August 2023 asking for information about Greenwich Power Station Usage.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.
the electricity generated per month from 2021 to date.
Please see attached.
the type of turbine used and fuel being burned for the production of electricity from 2021 to date.
Rolls-Royce Avon aeroderivative gas turbines, running on natural gas.
the number of times per month that the turbines have been switched on from 2021 to date.
Please see attached.
what contract is currently in place between tfl and the national grid for the greenwich power station and where can i find details of such contract.
Greenwich Power Station provides two services to national grid via a contract with 3rd party aggregator Enel X Ltd, namely Short Term Operating Reserve and Capacity Market.
Details of the Short Term Operating Reserve and Capacity Market services can be found on the national grid website.
given the huge redevelopment of the area in the last 10 years thousands of new homes have been built nearby, recently there has been an extraordinary increase in the amount of times the turbines are switched on which has had a significant impact in local air quality, has tfl taken any steps to measure local air quality on a regular basis and keep it in accordance to acceptable levels for a residential area and uk law if yes can you provide data of readings since 2021 to date.
As to the data provided in the attached document, Greenwich Power Station has not increased the amount of times the turbines have run, in fact there has been a year on year decrease in total running hours/starts, with an estimation to run circa 120hrs less per annum for the foreseeable future. Greenwich Power Station operates under an Environmental Permit issued by the Environment Agency in compliance with the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010 and Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) 2010/75/EU. The Environment Agency has concluded that the emissions to air from Greenwich Power Station has no adverse impact on human health nor any ecological/environmental impacts. Under the sites Environmental Permit operational hours are restricted to a maximum of 1,000 hours per annum, of which actual annual running hours average around 350 hours being well below the maximum permitted annual operational hours as regulated by the Environment Agency. The Permit also has set Emission Limit Values (ELVs) for NOx and CO which requires annual emissions monitoring to be conducted, with results demonstrating the actual emission values measured are around 22% lower than the maximum levels permitted thus ensuring legal compliance. If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
