Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The 400kV connection will be routed through underground cable conduits in the VPI-B area, pass via an existing pipe bridge to the existing Combined Heat and Power Plant (VPI-A), and finally terminate inside National Grid’s 400kV substation, with a total cable length of 2,000m.

The power station site covers an area of approximately 7.5ha and is located within the Immingham Industrial Estate; however, the footprint of the power station itself would be smaller than the full site.

There will be one stack (chimney) at the power station, up to 35 metres in height. The noise produced during the power station’s operation will be strictly limited by the Development Consent Order issued by the Secretary of State.

There will be HGV traffic during the construction phase. A Construction Traffic Management Plan will be developed and agreed with the relevant Authorities for the construction phase of the project.

The combustion of natural gas in a power station does not produce any noticeable odour.

A plume consisting mainly of water vapour may be visible from the stack of the power station but only under certain atmospheric conditions (cold and dry with high pressure); this is not ‘smoke’. The emissions from the stack will be strictly limited by the Environment Agency as part of an operational environmental permit, meaning that they will not be harmful to people or the environment.

Gas-fired power generation is affordable, reliable and flexible. New gas power projects are acknowledged by the Government as being essential to a lower-carbon economy, as an alternative to coal, and the construction and operation of rapid-response Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) are part of a strategy to support an electricity system that has an increasing amount of less flexible, low carbon and renewable energy technologies. Many ageing coal, gas and nuclear power stations have closed or are closing down and new thermal power generation capacity is needed to help the country retain its energy security.

Gas peaking plants such as Immingham Power are designed specifically to provide essential back-up power generation to intermittent renewable technologies such as wind turbines and solar farms.

New gas generation is part of a transition from more polluting fossil fuels of the past such as diesel, oil and coal and to a low carbon economy driven by renewables, storage, demand side response and other low carbon technologies.

We plan to use Immingham Power to plug the gaps that intermittency creates – essentially flicking the switch on and off at very short notice – from cold to full power in just 20 minutes. We anticipate it would run up to a maximum of 1,500 hours year. This would only be at times when the electricity system is under stress.

Through supporting more intermittent renewables, Immingham Power Station will also help to enable more coal-fired power stations off the system.

Gas-fired power stations in this country have an excellent safety record, and we do not consider there to be any issues of concern with our site and the neighbouring energy facilities.

Construction will last approximately 24 months and the power station is due to enter commercial operation by February 2026.

The Project can bring a range of benefits to the area during both the construction and operational phases.  It will create supply chain opportunities including up to 150 jobs during a construction period lasting two years.  In addition, the facility will contribute to business rates and be an active participant in the local community.  A detailed socio-economic impact study is being prepared as part of the Environmental Statement.