Dolgelley power station
Dolgelley or Dolgellau power station was a combined diesel and hydroelectric generating station. It provided electricity to the town of Dolgellau, Gwynedd, Wales and the surrounding district from 1936 until the 1960s.
History[edit]
Dolgellau Urban District Council constructed a combined diesel engine and water-turbine electricity generating plant at Frongoch Dolgellau.[1] In 1936–7 the Electricity Commissioners had authorised the Council to obtain a loan of £4,979 for building work, the purchase of plant, the installation of mains, and the provision of customers’ meters.[2] Upon the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948 the Dolgellau power station was vested in the British Electricity Authority.[3] The power station was decommissioned in the 1960s.[4]
Power station owners[edit]
The owners and operators of the power station over its operational life were: Dolgellau Urban District Council (1935–48), British Electricity Authority](1948–55), Central Electricity Authority (1955–57), Central Electricity Generating Board (1958–70).[3]
Plant and equipment[edit]
The plant at Dolgellau power station comprised:[5]
- One 66 kW Brush diesel engine set
- One 29 kW Gilkes-Gordon water turbine set
- One 53 kW Gilkes-Gordon water turbine set
The total generating capacity was 148 kW, the generating sets operated at 400 V alternating current.[5]
Operations[edit]
The operating conditions and electricity output of Dolgellau power station were:[6][5][7]
| Year | Running hours | Plant capacity kW | Electricity sent out MWh | Load factor per cent | Thermal efficiency per cent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | – | – | 288.6 | – | – |
| 1954 | 6157 | 148 | 637 | 69.9 | – |
| 1955 | 6706 | 148 | 682 | 68.8 | – |
| 1956 | 4682 | 148 | 441 | 63.6 | – |
| 1957 | 4118 | 148 | 346 | 56.8 | – |
| 1958 | 6657 | 148 | 476 | 48.3 | – |
| 1961 | – | 82 hydro + 66 diesel | 211 | 16.3 | 28.14 |
| 1962 | – | 82 + 66 | 278 | 21.5 | 28.72 |
| 1963 | – | 82 + 66 | 242 | 27.63 | 27.86 |
| 1967 | – | 82 + 66 | 432 | 33.6 | 28.02 |
See also[edit]
- Timeline of the UK electricity supply industry
- List of power stations in Wales
- Hydroelectricity in the United Kingdom
References[edit]
- ^ "Records of the Dolgellau Urban District Council, Electricity Department, 1935-1946, including sub-station record books, 1935-1945; and supply book counterfoils, 1937-1946". archives hub. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ Electricity Commissioners (1937). 17th Annual Report 1936 to 1937. London: HMSO. p. 122.
- ^ a b Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 60, 69, 76. ISBN 085188105X.
- ^ The station is included in the CEGB Annual Report for 1963 but not in the CEGB Statistical Yearbook 1972
- ^ a b c Garrett, Frederick C. (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-50, A-141.
- ^ Electricity Commissioners (1947). Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 8.
- ^ CEGB Annual report and Accounts, 1961, 1962 & 1963