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RWE npower – who we are

RWE npower, part of the RWE Group, is a leading UK energy company.

RWE npower is committed to conducting its business with a sense of

responsibility for the environment, its customers and for the

communities in which it operates.

RWE npower’s retail business, npower, is the UK’s

largest electricity supplier, with around 6.8 million

residential and business energy customers. RWE

npower also owns and operates a diverse portfolio

of coal, oil and gas-fired power stations in the

UK and has the capacity to generate over 9,000

megawatts of electricity, enough for around nine

million homes.

RWE npower manages almost 2,000 megawatts

of cogeneration (combined heat and power) plant.

Used at major industrial sites and by other large

consumers of energy, cogeneration schemes

generate electricity and provide heat to nearby

industrial facilities which would otherwise have

to generate by other means, using more primary

energy resource. In 2006 alone it is estimated

that RWE npower’s cogeneration saved 1.5 million

tonnes of CO2, compared to conventional

generation.

npower renewables is one of the UK's leading

renewable energy companies, dedicated to

generating electricity using sustainable,

environmentally-friendly resources. It has a

wide-ranging portfolio that includes more than

460 megawatts of onshore and offshore wind

farms and hydroelectric plants. In addition,

through the npower Juice Fund, the company

is involved in research to harness the power

of waves and tides – another source of clean,

sustainable electricity generation.

As demand for electricity increases in the UK and

existing generating plants are retired, RWE npower

is committed to investing in new gas, coal and

renewable power generation to maintain secure,

sustainable and affordable electricity supply into

the future.

RWE npower intends to be a good neighbour

in the construction and operation of the power

station and is fully committed to corporate

responsibility. This means considering the

social and environmental aspects of its operations,

working with the community to maximise positive

effects and minimise any negative impacts.

Responsible business practices are integral to

everything RWE npower does, from purchasing

fuel to servicing customers.

Staythorpe

Power Station

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RWE npower – A history at Staythorpe

RWE npower, and its predecessor National Power, has been involved in

generating power at Staythorpe for over half a century. In fact, several

generations of Staythorpe Power Station employees and their families

still live in the local area. Over the years RWE npower has delivered

significant investment into the local economy and provided support for

many community projects. We intend to continue working with the local

community and are committed to being a good neighbour.

The first power station was built at Staythorpe

immediately after the Second World War and used

six 60 megawatt turbines to achieve the required

360MW output. However, demand for electricity

was growing fast. More power stations were

needed to ensure continuity of supply to homes

and industrial users and the second Staythorpe

power station opened in 1962.

At the time of its opening, the second power

station was one of the most modern and efficient

coal-fired power stations anywhere in the country,

far outstripping its sister station. Whereas the first

station used six 60 megawatt turbines to achieve

the required 360MW output, the second station

could produce the same power with just three

turbines.

In 1961 a sculpture, Power in Trust, was

commissioned and stood as a focal point between

the two power stations at Staythorpe reflecting

a power-generating turbine cradled in a ‘hand’

of boiler tubes. Whilst the two stations have since

been demolished, the sculpture lives on and is set

to become an integral part of the new scheme.

By the 1970s, the first power station was showing

its age; overtaken by a new generation of more

powerful and efficient coal and oil-fired stations

and it was decommissioned during the 1970s.

The second station was demolished in the 1990s.

In 1993, following full public consultation and a

public inquiry, planning approval was granted for a

gas fired power station at Staythorpe. Construction

began in 1998 but was put on hold two years later,

as there was already sufficient generating capacity in

the UK at that time.

However, closure of ageing plants and environmental

regulation mean that the UK once again requires

significant new generating capacity. Therefore, in

May 2007 RWE npower announced its plans to build

a £600m state-of-the-art Combined Cycle Gas Turbine

(CCGT) power station at Staythorpe.

RWE npower’s plans for a new 1650MW CCGT at

Staythorpe mean that it will once again play a crucial

role in UK power generation and the economic

success of the area, well into the 21st century.

The original Staythorpe Power Station (1960’s)

Staythorpe

Power Station

A new power station – why we need to build it

European Legislation (Large Combustion Plant Directive) means that

many existing coal and oil plants are required to close by the end of

2015. In addition, the majority of nuclear plants will close by 2020

as they reach the end of their operational lives.

Despite efforts to improve energy efficiency, we

expect that demand for electricity will continue

to increase in this period and as a result it is

estimated that the UK will require around 30

gigawatts of new capacity, nearly 50% of the

total existing capacity, by 2020. This clearly

creates a need for a sustained period of

investment, starting now, if we are to keep the

lights on in the future.

As set out in the Government’s recent Energy

White Paper, the nation needs a diverse mix of

generation to maintain a secure, sustainable and

affordable electricity supply for years to come.

However, the first phase of new capacity at this

scale can only be delivered by gas-fired power

stations. Coal, nuclear and wind generation

are constrained by the availability of sites,

the requirement for planning approval and

in the case of wind, scale.

The new state-of-the-art power station at

Staythorpe will make a significant contribution

to ongoing energy supply while helping to cut

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions. With established

gas and electrical network connections and a

substantial amount of civil work already done,

Staythorpe provides the ideal location.

The new power station will have a total

generating capacity of 1650 megawatts

and will produce enough electricity to

power around two million homes.

At the same time as developing new, efficient

power stations, RWE npower continues to invest

heavily in renewable generation. As one of the

largest developers and operators of renewables,

npower believes it can meet current UK targets

of supplying 20 per cent of our electricity from

renewable sources by 2020.

Staythorpe

Power Station

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A new station - what we will build

RWE npower has unveiled plans for a new state-of-the-art 1650MW

Combined Cycle Gas turbine (CCGT) power station at Staythorpe.

The new station will cost over £600 million to build and will be

operational by 2010.

The new power station highlights RWE npower’s

long-term commitment to supporting Staythorpe

and the surrounding areas and the new station

will bring a number of long-term benefits. These

include 80 permanent jobs at the station and

lasting investment in the local economy. In total,

the new power station will bring around £10

million into the local economy every year.

Staythorpe Power Station will be a compact

industrial facility located on a brownfield site

that housed the two previous coal stations.

The power station will comprise four generating

units, each around 400MW, with the combined

ability to generate power for almost two million

homes, or in other words, the whole of

Nottinghamshire.

The new gas fired power station will be a state-

of-the-art facility that is clean, quiet, efficient

and a significant improvement on the power

stations of the 1950s and 60s. Generating

electricity from gas is more efficient than

generating electricity from coal. Gas also

contains less carbon than coal. These two

factors result in gas-fired generation emitting

around half the CO2

emissions when compared to

coal. Gas also contains only trace amounts

of sulphur so there will be virtually no sulphur

dioxide emitted from Staythorpe Power Station.

RWE npower received planning consent for

Staythorpe in 1993 and began construction

in 1998. Construction was put on hold in 2000

as UK Generators had developed enough power

stations to fulfil the electricity demand at the

time. The original consent remains valid today,

but we are working closely with the local

authorities to ensure that the latest, cleanest

technology can be employed.

Staythorpe

Power Station

A n

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What the new power station will look like

The new gas fired power station at Staythorpe will generate four times

as much electricity as the previous coal-fired power stations, equivalent

to supplying all the homes in Nottinghamshire. However, modern

CCGT's are compact facilities compared to old coal fired stations and

RWE npower is committed to limiting the visual impact of the new

Staythorpe Power Station.

RWE npower has chosen the colours carefully,

opting for ‘goose wing grey’ to ensure it blends in

with the skyline. RWE npower has to design the

power station so it is built within the existing

site, in a position to minimise any visual impact.

This is supported by landscaping and significant

planting of trees and shrubbery. The power

station island is surrounded by mature trees,

in fact during initial works in 2000, 50,000

new trees were planted.

Staythorpe

Power Station

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How the new power station will affectthe local community

The new power station at Staythorpe will significantly benefit the local

community by providing jobs and continuing investment in the local

economy. Every effort will also be taken to minimise any disruption

caused by construction and eventual operation of the power station.

RWE npower has a long-term commitment to

Staythorpe and the surrounding area. Through

links with local authorities, conservation groups,

schools and colleges, the new power station will

play an active role in the neighbouring

community. The power station will also provide

significant benefits by providing long-term

employment as well as contributing to the local

economy.

Staythorpe Power Station will also fund, sponsor

and support local educational and environmental

initiatives. As part of the initial development, RWE

npower contributed to a number of community

schemes, including the funding of a school

extension and playground equipment, along with

providing numerous smaller contributions to local

societies and parish organisations.

RWE npower constantly evaluates and measures

its investments to ensure its community partners

are continually benefiting. It is committed to

developing long-term relationships with

community partners focusing on three key themes

of education, environment and health. In 2006,

over 20,000 students learned about energy and

power through the interactive Power Day events

that take place in local schools around RWE

npower’s operating sites. It also provides

students and teachers with opportunities to

increase their awareness of the ‘World of Work’

through work placements and free Power Pack

resources. In addition, RWE npower has attracted

young people into the industry through the

Advanced Apprenticeship programme, a four-year

training scheme in disciplines relevant to the

power industry.

Staythorpe

Power Station

Th

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How the new station could affect the environment

RWE npower is committed to limiting the impact of any new

development on the environment. The new gas-fired power station

will be designed using state-of-the-art equipment and will emit less

than half the carbon dioxide, per unit of electricity, than the previous

coal-fired stations at Staythorpe.

The new power station will also help to

significantly reduce the impact on the wider

environment. Modern gas fired power stations

are compact and clean industrial facilities, and

before we can begin generation, we will require

a permit from the Environment Agency.

Therefore, the new state-of-the-art CCGT power

station will be far more environmentally friendly

than its predecessor, producing less than half

the CO2

per unit than an existing coal station.

Modern gas-fired power stations are

compact and clean industrial facilities.

During construction and operation RWE

npower will closely monitor all environmental

impacts from the power station.

The local environmental impact at Staythorpe

is minimised by the characteristics of the new

power station:

• Gas is brought direct to the site by an existing

pipeline, so there is no requirement for transport

of the main fuel to site

• As the power station burns gas, there is no

residue from the combustion process and

no by-products requiring disposal

• Natural gas contains almost no sulphur and

combustion is controlled to ensure negligible

impact on local air quality

RWE npower will make every effort to cause as

little disruption to the local environment and

wildlife as possible, with important habitats

and species being retained or relocated and

re-established. In depth studies into how the

new power station might affect local wildlife

have already been carried out, ensuring the

sites biodiversity is protected.

RWE npower is firmly committed to the

environment and at existing power stations

has set up Energy and Environment Centres

as a resource for schools, researchers and other

interest groups to explore the surrounding

habitat and learn more about energy generation.

Staythorpe

Power Station

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Economic benefits

A new power station is a major, long-term investment by RWE npower

in the area.

The new power station will create up to

80 permanent jobs, ranging from skilled

operating and maintenance staff to

professional engineering, environmental,

management and security staff.

The new power station will cost over £600

million to construct and will continue to provide

more than £10 million of investment into the

local economy every year, due to employment

and expenditure with local businesses and

services. This will help to provide a solid basis

for the continued economic success of the area.

Staythorpe

Power Station

Eco

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Managing construction traffic

Construction of a new power station is a major project, and while every

effort will be made to keep disruption to a minimum, RWE npower

recognises that construction traffic is likely to be a concern locally.

RWE npower is carrying out studies, which will be used to reduce the

impact of construction traffic and are currently developing a plan.

This includes:

• Exploring the use of the River Trent where

possible, and routing traffic to avoid

problem areas

• Looking at on site construction techniques

that reduce construction traffic

• Informing local residents of the timings

of key deliveries

• Use of suitable routes for construction

lorries that have been agreed with the

local planning authority

RWE npower is committed to managing the

construction phase of Staythorpe Power Station

in a responsible way. Where there may be an

impact, we will work closely with the community

to mitigate effects. RWE npower is committed to

keeping the community updated regularly.

RWE npower will shortly be entering a detailed

design phase with its contractor and is working

with the local planning authority and stakeholders

to secure the best possible scheme for Staythorpe.

RWE npower plan to be on site this autumn (2007)

with full construction underway by the start

of 2008.

One of the key advantages of Staythorpe is that

extensive works have already been carried out on

site, including:

• Completion of a dedicated 40km underground

pipeline bringing gas direct to the site

• Significant civil works including preparation for

foundations and installation of permanent site

access and perimeter roads

• Substantial landscaping including the planting

of over 50,000 trees which have now matured

These advanced works will reduce the

construction programme and ensure that

Staythorpe Power Station can deliver the

generating capacity urgently required in the UK.

Staythorpe

Power Station

Man

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