National Grid, E.ON Link Gas Power Station with Grain LNG Terminal, UK

Rt Hon Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, praised the joint approach taken by National Grid and E.ON to help save up to 300,000 tonnes of CO2 each year by linking E.ON’s £500m new gas-fired power station to National Grid’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal on the Isle of Grain in Kent.

The gas-fired Grain power station not only generates electricity but also supplies heat via a heatpipe, which was officially opened today, to the neighbouring National Grid LNG terminal. This combined approach means that the power station is now rated as one of the most efficient in the world.

Normally the LNG plant uses gas to heat the liquid gas from its chilled state back to its gaseous state so it can enter the network. But now with the heatpipe, the waste hot water from the power station can warm the liquid gas instead, which reduces the amount of gas the LNG plant would usually burn in this process.

Speaking at the official opening of the heatpipe, Ed Davey said: “Given our need to power our economy and reduce emissions, high efficiency gas fired energy has a key role to play.

“The cooperation between National Grid and E.ON is an excellent example of how one’s waste can benefit another and makes this gas fired power station one of the most efficient in the world. The gas saved is equivalent to the amount used by 100,000 houses per year and the reduction in carbon emissions equates to taking 60,000 cars off the road.

“It shows by constantly looking for efficiencies in everything we do we can make a big and lasting difference.”

Dr. Tony Cocker, Chief Executive of E.ON UK, said: “The collaboration and engineering excellence shown since our investment was at the earliest planning stage has been hugely impressive and I must also pay tribute to our partners at National Grid for their role in this success.

“We are continuing to invest throughout the UK to maintain, improve, upgrade and replace the UK’s energy infrastructure and the development at Grain is just one example of this. In almost every corner of the country you can see first-hand the positive impact our investment is having, and will have, in the coming months and years.”

Steve Holliday, Chief Executive of National Grid said: “It’s a ‘win win’ for us as companies, and more importantly, for the environment. It’s a fantastic example of innovation and working together which will be critical if we are going to meet the energy challenges ahead. Together, we have created the most efficient power generation and re-gasification plants in the UK”.

The combined facility is now fully operational with hot water being supplied from the E.ON power station and the heat being utilised by National Grid at the LNG terminal to ensure vital gas supplies continue.

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LNG World News Staff, October 04, 2012; Image: National Grid