CARLISLE could see a new gas-fired energy generation facility which, if approved, will contribute electricity to the National Grid and 'support efforts to cut carbon emissions'.
STOR Power Limited has submitted an application for planning permission to build an energy reserve facility with infrastructure on land at Rome Street.
The site, in Carlisle's industrial area, will be bounded by a former railway line and the Bousteads Grassing recycling centre.
In supporting statements submitted with the plans, STOR said: "In order to meet the government’s targets under the Climate Change Act 2008, of reducing carbon emissions by 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050, the energy balance is becoming increasingly reliant on renewable energy sources."
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The Government has drawn-up a policy framework to ensure there is enough capacity to meet energy demand.
STOR Power was set-up as a privately-owned company in 2015 to build reserve power facilities in the UK and support the ambition to reach net zero carbon.
The proposed facility on Rome Street will be one of a number of sites across the UK designed to achieve this. It will contribute 15.5MW of electricity into the system with four gas engine containers, associated cooling radiators and exhaust stacks.
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STOR Power say that the energy reserve facility would typically be switched-off until called upon by the National Grid. It would thus operate as a 'peaking plant,' responding to periods of high demand.
It is estimated that the plant would have enough capacity to serve the equivalent of approximately 19,375 homes in the local distribution network "during a period of peak demand."
Due to its intermittant usage, the facility would be unmanned.
In its Design and Access Statement, STOR Power said: "For the assessment of air quality impacts it has been assumed that the gas engines would operate for up to 2,000 hours per year.
"This is considered to provide a ‘worst case’ assessment as, in reality, the expected hours of operation would be substantially less."
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