The first station was built in 1893, with an original capacity of 225 kW. New generating equipment was added as the demand for electricity increased. The generating capacity, maximum load, and electricity generated and sold was as follows:[1]
The A station eventually closed in 1959. A new 'B' station was planned before World War II, opening in 1948. The Thames was used both for coal supply and ash removal, and as a source of cooling water.[2] The new station was the first to be opened following nationalisation of the power industry, with the official opening by King George VI, the first station to receive such an honour since Barking in 1924.[3][4]
Kingston A generating capacity, load and electricity produced and sold
| Year |
Generating capacity, MW |
Maximum load, MW |
Electricity generated, GWh |
Electricity sold, GWh |
|---|
| 1912/3 |
0.860 |
0.670 |
1.332 |
1.152 |
| 1918/9 |
2.00 |
0.95 |
2.175 |
1.608 |
| 1919/20 |
2.00 |
1.25 |
2.208 |
1.848 |
| 1923/4 |
4.50 |
2.00 |
4.081 |
2.394 |
| 1936/7 |
11.75 |
7.293 |
None (30.711 purchased) |
19.140 |
In 1923 the plant comprised two 1,250 kW turbo-alternators, these were supplied from the boiler plant which produced a total of 66,000 lb/hr (8.32 kg/s) of steam.[5] Electricity was available at 3-phase AC, 50 Hz at 440, 415 & 240V and single phase AC, 77 Hz at 210 & 105V. In 1923 the station generated 3.448 GWh of electricity, some of this was used in the plant, the total amount sold was 1.888 GWh. The revenue from sales of current was £39,623, this gave a surplus of revenue over expenses of £21,124.[5] The station was extended in April 1930 with the addition of a 50,000-lb/hr boiler feeding a 3,750-kW turbo-alternator.[6]
The installed plant in 1938 consisted of the following Brush Lungstrom sets
2 x 1,250 kW, 1 x 2,000 kW, 1 x 3,500 and 1 x 3,750 kW [7]
Kingston B power station was opened in October 1948 with the first of 4 × 30 MW British Thomson-Houston turbo-alternators and a 3 MW house set giving a generating capacity of 123 MW. The second unit was commissioned in January 1949. Coal was supplied by barge from the river Thames and fed direct to the boiler bunkers or placed in a store area which could hold 30, 000 Tonnes. The six chain grate stoker Stirling boilers each had a steam capacity of 260,000 lb/hr using 16 Tonnes of coal/hour. The steam conditions at the turbine stop valve were 600 psi (41.4 bar) and 454 °C. Exhaust gases escaped to the atmosphere through two 250ft high chimneys.[8]
The overall thermal efficiency of the station in 1966 was 21.12 per cent.[9]
Electricity output from Kingston power station was as follows.[9][10][11]
Kingston annual electricity output GWh.
Generation ceased on 27 October 1980 with a generating capacity of 117 megawatts.[12] The station was eventually demolished, despite calls for preservation as a power museum. The two 250-foot chimneys were demolished in 1994.[2]
