§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will list the number, type of output and location of those power stations which will be in need of replacement in the next 20 years;
(2) if he will list the annual amount of coal burn at each of the power stations scheduled for closure during the next 20 years.
§ Mr. GoodladDecisions on closures of power stations in England and Wales are the responsibility of the Central Electricity Generating Board. For planning purposes, the board assigns a notional operating lifetime of 40 years to its fossil-fired power stations and of 30 years to its Magnox nuclear power stations. Because of the relatively low level of generating plant commissioned in recent years, a high proportion of plant of all types now in operation will complete its full notional lifetime during the next 20 years. Decisions on closures are not taken until the year before and are made in the light of various factors including electricity demand, the relative costs of primary fuels and the availability of more economic generating capacity elsewhere on the board's system.
The board has identified the following stations for decommissioning in October 1986:
Plant Capacity MWso Type of firing Close (C) or Reserve (R) Westwood * 60 Coal C Belvedere HP 230 Oil R Belvedere LP* 115 Oil C * Final part.