Newton Abbot Power Station

From the late 1890s, Newton Abbot and Torquay each developed their own electricity generating capacity to serve their local areas.

1898 The Newton Abbot Electricity Generating Station was established at Jetty Marsh, supplying dc, mainly used for industrial loads.

The site was adjacent to the Moretonhampstead and South Devon Railway branch of the Great Western Railway, and between the River Teign and River Lemon. This allowed the station to receive coal deliveries both by rail, and by barge at the jetty. The power station also drew water from the Teign, before discharging it again in the Lemon.

1923 the station was operated by the Urban Electricity Supply Co Ltd. The plant consisted of 3 × 90 kW and 1 × 250 kW reciprocating engines and generators producing 240 and 480 V DC.

1920s Torquay Corporation acquired the Newton Abbot power station, and built a new station to replace their ageing unit (which had been at Beacon Quay, Torquay).

1924 The new station, serving both Newton Abbot and Torquay, was opened at Jetty Marsh.

1924 The station had two 1.25 MW generators (from Torquay)

1924-6 Two more 3.75 MW turbo alternators were added

1929 A 7.5 MW turbo alternator was added

1931 Another 7.5 MW turbo alternator was added

During the development of the high pressure section of the power station in 1940 a single, large cooling tower was built to satisfy the condenser demands of the new boilers, which was a dominant feature of the Newton Abbot skyline.

1940s Two 15 MW turbo alternators were added

1948 The station reached its peak capacity of 52.5 MW.

The plant at the station comprised:

• Two Stirling boilers each 33,000 pounds per hour, operating at 265 psi and 650 °F,
• Two Stirling boilers each 50,000 pounds per hour, operating at 265 psi and 750 °F,
• Four Stirling boilers each 100,000 pounds per hour, operating at 425 psi and 825 °F,
• Two 15 MW British Thomson-Houston turbo-alternators generating at 11 kV 50 Hz,
• Two 7.5 MW British Thomson-Houston turbo-alternators generating at 11 kV 50 Hz,
• Two 3.3 MW British Thomson-Houston turbo-alternators generating at 11 kV 50 Hz,
• One 225 kW Belliss turbo-alternator, 520 Volt DC,
• Three rotary converters, 2 × 400 kW, one 500 kW.

1948 The electricity supply system was nationalised.

The station was used less from the mid 1960s as more efficient plant was available via the national grid.

1972 The amount of electricity supplied as a percentage of the output capacity was 8.8 per cent.

1974 The station was closed

See Also

Loading...

• [1] Memories of Newton Abbot and Torquay power stations.

Sources of Information

• [2] TWTD