UK energy player Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, is reported to be planning the construction of a new large, gas-fired power plant at the site of one of its existing power stations in East Anglia, the BBC has reported.
The publication reported that the company is currently evaluating its power plant sites in Kings Lynn, Norfolk and Peterborough, Cambridgeshire as the potential location for the new project. However, the BBC also said that a company spokesman declined to comment which of the sites is the most likely.
A Centrica spokesman told the BBC: We are reviewing our portfolio and are looking to existing sites. Our initial findings show that there is at least one site and the site that we have identified so far is in East Anglia, with the potential for 800MW of additional generation.
It is believed that Centrica is hoping to keep planning and construction costs for the new plant to a minimum, which would be greatly facilitated by locating it at an existing site. However, the spokesman is also reported to have said that as yet, Centrica has not made an investment decision.
Reuters reported that Centrica already has seven gas-fired power plants in its domestic market, and that the company sees gas as an important fuel, as it produces less gas carbon dioxide than oil or coal, and plants that are gas-fired are economical to build.