Environment

Barking Power and the Environment

Barking Power works hard to minimise its impact on the environment and its modern generating plant produces some of the lowest emissions of any generation station in the UK for each unit of output. About 50% of the energy in the fuel used at Barking is turned into electricity - compared to a typical level of about 35% for conventional power stations - while emissions of "greenhouse" gas are only about 40% of those from a similarly sized coal-fired plant. Sophisticated emission control technology ensures that only low levels of NOx are produced and no oxides of sulphur (the "acid rain" gas) are produced when the station is using gas as its fuel.

Modern noise-abatement technology minimises the effects of operation on the local environment. Careful design of the cooling water system minimises the quantity of fish taken from the river and a fish return system puts those that are drawn in back into the river, while rubbish is removed and disposed of. Because some migratory fish - notably salmon - are discouraged by hot water, once the river temperature reaches 21.5°C a closed-circuit standby cooling system is used instead of the river.

Barking Power Limited is a company incorporated in England with registration number 02354681 and whose registered office is at Barking Power Station, Chequers Lane, Dagenham, Essex, RM9 6PF.