Gorgonzola Butt-cheese Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 I read this piece about the proposed new power station http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2012/11/14/gas-pipeline-plans-to-be-revealed And I am thinking, surely it would make more sense to build the power station at sullom voe where the gas comes ashore and save the cost of building a pipeline to lerwick. Also the lerwick power station site would be an excellent place to put a modern ship repair yard with capability to dry dock vessels up to perhaps 10,000 grt. Perhaps building the new power station in yell or unst would be more sense than lerwick, a massive economic boost to the isles and a shorter pipeline for the gas ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 At the end of the day the Hydro's bottom line is going to dicate what happens, which is cheaper, a gas pipe from Sullom to Lerwick, or a high capacity power cable to Lerwick. There's a pre-existing distribution network thats set up to send all power outwards from Lerwick, so unless the most expensive components of that are due replacement, re-jigging the Shetland network to handle all Shetland's power coming out of Sullom or anyplace else isn't going to fly. Yeah I can follow the logic of having it at Sullom to minimise fuel transport costs, but I suspect the cost of copper wire is of greater concern to SSE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoogler Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 ^^Nail on head Ghostrider. The infrastructure for power distribution is all set up in a system that emanates outwards from Lerwick. Cost of completely upgrading that is prohibitive. A gas pipeline is not a big thing, it would probably only need to be an 8" pipe or thereabouts so quite doable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shetlandpeat Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 I think this has already been discussed in depth on another thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorgonzola Butt-cheese Posted November 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 I see it has been discussed before, but this time the discussion is about location rather than the type of fuel used. The upgrade of the existing network is a valid point, but surely the larger part of transmission network could remain as is, as the power to be transmitted to the north, west and south of lerwick remains the same. Surely it would only be from the new station to lerwick that would require an upgrade. There is also the benefits to the rural economy of moving industry and jobs away from lerwick and halting the lerick-centric accumulation of job prospects we see at present. Then there is the benefits of opening up a piece of waterfront real estate for redevelopment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuckleJoannie Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 I was told by a member of the Hydro staff that having the power station in Lerwick means that they have more options for changing the supply route to consumers. If one part of the system goues down thay can switch to another supply line to maintain supplies. The danger of a power station at Sullom Voe would be that if the power line south went down pretty much all Shetland would go off. It would be too expensive to put in additional supply lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exciseman Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 If the new power station can run off piped gas from Sullom then surely Lerwick households can be supplied with mains gas - yes/no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustMe Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 If the new power station can run off piped gas from Sullom then surely Lerwick households can be supplied with mains gas - yes/no?Maybe not. Is the gas the right sort for household use?. Are the citizens of Lerwick prepared for yet more street digging and anyway who is going to pay for it all to happen?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulb Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 its the gas that they are planning to pipe to the south so it had better be the right type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amno Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 No gas company will go to all that expense for 9000 odd customers, would be nice to have but isnt a realistic prospect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tivacudda Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 If piping the gas to domestic households were possible why would it just be Lerwick, surely some of the rural areas that it passed through might benefit as well! Not that I think this would be achievable, it's just one of these things about rural areas.It doesn't have to be all about Lerwick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exciseman Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 No gas company will go to all that expense for 9000 odd customers, would be nice to have but isnt a realistic prospect SSE are a gas company as well so it may be worth their while? Also if they can run the power station from gas piped from Sullom then maybe the district heating plant can be run cheaper using that gas as well – yes/no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amno Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 No gas company will go to all that expense for 9000 odd customers, would be nice to have but isnt a realistic prospect SSE are a gas company as well so it may be worth their while? Also if they can run the power station from gas piped from Sullom then maybe the district heating plant can be run cheaper using that gas as well – yes/no? Yes true but the cost of installing a domestic network to homes and buisneses is far to high as apposed to a single pipeline to a power station, district heating may be cheaper but nice idea gas central heating is a very nice phantasy which just isnt going to happen, lerwick sized settlements in the central belt dont have domestic gas if they're to far off the beaten track im afraid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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