New Power Station at Ness Point

Tuesday's warning that gas shortages in this coming winter might lead to interrupted electricity supplies – that is, power cuts – reminded me of Lowestoft's own new power station.

It's currently being constructed just east of the old gas holder, by Conrad Energy. These are being built around the country to provide local power 'infills' as we transition to a renewable energy supply. As I understand it, they will leap into action if there are any local power fluctuations. “Flexible generation provides a service that can speedily respond to demands on the grid, enabling additional energy to be fed into the network when it is most needed” as Conrad Energy puts it.

The electricity is generated by using natural gas. So maybe it won't necessarily help if we're nationally short of gas. It's set to be operational by the end of 2022.

But, this is an interim measure. Philip Silk, Head of Development at Conrad Energy, said on Thursday at Lowestoft Vision's Ambassadors Event, that the second part of the project was a new plant, which would produce hydrogen, which could be used for a variety of energy uses.

“Hydrogen will be a key contributor to sustainable development and the energy transition as the UK moves towards net zero. Hydrogen is an effective and environmentally friendly energy carrier. The main aim of the UK Hydrogen Strategy is to have the capacity to produce 10GW (ten billion joules per second) of low-carbon power from hydrogen by 2030. This is equivalent to the amount of gas used by six million UK households.” says Conrad Energy.

At the meeting, Philip Silk said Conrad had got planning permission in February 2022 for the project: “Powered by clean electricity, the project has the potential to produce up to 470 tonnes of hydrogen per year – enough clean gas ...to fuel the equivalent of 60 hydrogen fuelled HGVs travelling 50,000 miles per year. The only emissions from the process will be oxygen, which we will also be exploring the potential to utilise in commercial applications”. Clean electricity means green – no fossil fuels.

The mini-station currently being built will eventually run on a dual-fuel set-up – natural gas and hydrogen. Neat.

This is, I think, something of a coup for Lowestoft. It wasn't so long ago (2004) that SLP built Gulliver, at the time Suffolk's first commercial wind turbine and the tallest in the UK. Then came the Orbis Centre, the various off-shore windfarms, and now, hydrogen.

When Gulliver first appeared Lowestoft had mixed feelings, especially about the efficiency and general usefulness of wind-generated electricity. I think the technology and cost questions have been answered, and the off-shore wind farms certainly add to our economy. Producing hydrogen can only add to our economic and energy resilience..

John Ellerby

https://conradenergy.co.uk/projects/flexible-generation/