Greenwich power station working hours/health hazards
Request ID: FOI-2945-2324 Date published: 30 November 2023
You asked
My partner and I are currently in the process of purchasing a flat to live in which neighbours Greenwich power station. We have some concerns about the potential health hazards of living so close to a gas power station. Would you be able to let me know, firstly, how many hours per week the station is in use (and if possible, the hours that this tends to be)? Secondly, would you have any information available on the potential health hazards? If not, if there is anywhere that you could direct me for further information on this, that would be greatly appreciated!
We answered
Our ref: FOI-2945-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 17 November 2023 asking for information about the working hours and health hazards of Greenwich power station.
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.
Greenwich Power Station is classed as an emergency back-up generator and is run periodically for testing purposes or vary rarely in support of National Grid to prevent power cuts. As a result, the Power Station is not in use every week.
The sites Environmental Permit restricts operational hours to a maximum of 1,000 hours per annum, of which actual annual running hours for 2023 are currently only 160 hours year to date, which is well below the limit set by the Environment Agency (EA). For the current month of November the power station has only run on 4 occasions for a total of 3½ hours, with total running hours for 2023 being a 50% reduction on the previous year.
The 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. This can be found on the Environment Agency website https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/industrial-installations/registration/EPR-CP3432NF. This permit demonstrates that operations are compliant and within the EA's Environmental Assessment Levels which address potential health impacts which might arise from both short term and long term exposure.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely,
Tahsin Prima FOI Case Officer General Counsel Transport for London
