RWE npower
FAQs
How can you just start building a power station after all this time?
We secured Section 36 consent for the power station in 1993. As part of the original construction programme we completed civil work – around 10% of the final plant – and the original consent remains valid today.
We are working closely with Newark and Sherwood District Council to ensure that any outstanding planning issues are resolved before any construction begins. We will also provide information to all local stakeholders.
Why was construction stopped before?
Construction began on Staythorpe at the end of a sustained period of new plant construction in the UK. When the supplier identified problems with the technology they had offered the project was suspended as by this time the market had delivered sufficient new generating capacity.
Will the power station be an obvious terrorist target?
We work closely with the security services to ensure our security provisions are adequate. There is no reason why Staythorpe will be a specific target.
Why do we need a new power station at Staythorpe?
The UK needs around 25GW of new generating capacity in the next decade. To deliver capacity at this scale, new gas fired power stations are required. Staythorpe is a consented site with established gas and electrical network connections and a substantial amount of civil work already done. These factors make Staythorpe an ideal site for delivering new capacity in the timeframe needed to ensure security of supply.
What will the benefit be to the local community?
RWE npower makes a long-term commitment to all its power station sites, and the new power station will provide a significant benefit in terms of long-term employment as well as a significant contribution to the local economy.
There will be a positive impact on the local economy through requirements for ancillary services such as security, catering, maintenance contractors and support workers and indirect benefit from an improved job market.
npower are committed to education and community investment projects in areas in which they work. We have a major education programme and also offers an excellent Apprenticeship Programme and Community Involvement Programme.
In addition to this, npower is firmly committed to the environment and at existing power stations we have set up Energy and Environment Centres. This centre is used as a resource for schools, researchers and other interest groups to explore the surrounding habitat and learn more about the power station itself. We will put all these schemes in place at Staythorpe.
Won’t the power station be an eyesore and pollute the local environment?
A modern gas fired power station is a compact and clean industrial facility. We are working with Newark and Sherwood District Council to minimise the visual impact and every effort will be taken to limit any negative impact on the local communities. We will require a permit from the Environment Agency (a Pollution Prevention and Control of ‘PPC permit’) under the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) regulations 2000.
Our modelling shows that air quality in the region of the power station will be above all UK standards.
Where will all the construction traffic go?
We are carrying out studies to minmise the impact of construction traffic. We will make use of the river Trent where possible and are also looking into construction techniques to limit traffic. Inevitably there will be an increase in heavy traffic and where this has an impact we will work closely with the community to mitigate the effects.