GREEN LIGHT FOR NEW GAS STATION....  

The green-light was given by the Government today for a 1,520 megawatt Combined Cycle Gas turbine (CCGT) power plant at Carrington near Manchester.

The plant, owned by Wainstones Energy Limited, will have a construction period of about 30 months, with full operation scheduled for 2013. The plant is the first to be consented in line with new carbon capture readiness requirements and the company has prepared plan explaining how they would retro-fit carbon capture and storage equipment to the plant in the future.

The consent accompanied publication of a number of papers setting out the Government’s strategy for ensuring secure UK gas supplies to 2020 and beyond.

Says Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband: “As we make the transition to a low carbon future and our domestic gas reserves decline, we remain vigilant about maintaining energy supplies that are diverse and secure.

“While we remain alert, what was shown this winter when the gas market was tested by extreme     circumstances is that the existing gas system is working well.  Since 2005, we have facilitated a big  increase in import capacity, gas storage capacity as well as improving the information available to the market.”