E.ON is currently developing a new gas-fired combined heat and power (CHP) station on the isle of Grain in Kent.

Rated at 1,275MW, the £500m station will consist of three natural gas-fired units using the very latest in combined cycle technology to produce enough electricity to supply around one million homes.

As well as generating electricity, the power station will feature an innovative CHP scheme that will supply 'waste' heat in the form of hot water to the nearby liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, making Grain one of the world's largest CHP plants.

In combining best proven gas turbine and combined cycle technology with CHP, Grain is expected to have an overall efficiency of up to 73%, demonstrating E.ON UK's continued commitment to meet and surpass the country's future emissions targets.

Commissioning activities on site are expected to continue to the end of March 2011 with commercial operation expected by Q2 2011.

CHP for a lower carbon future

At present, National Grid's Grain LNG terminal uses natural gas to heat the liquefied natural gas into a usable form. The CHP scheme at the new power station will have the capacity to transfer up to 340MW of heat energy recovered from the steam condensation process within the CCGT to the LNG vaporisers, allowing for a reduction in carbon emissions of up to 350,000 tonnes a year.

Grain CHP Press Release (PDF, 46KB)