Refuse destructor

The refuse destructor was built at the same time as, and was an integral part of, the power station. The destructor was capable of handling 60 tonnes per day of refuse.^[5] Refuse was burned in six top-feed Horsfall cells with a total grate area of 180 square feet (16.7 square metres). Lancashire boilers – 7½ by 30 ft (2.3 by 9.1 m) – were located at the back of each cell with a heating surface area of 1,000 square feet (93 m²) each. After combustion clinker and ash made up about 35.5 percent by weight of the refuse burned. In 1904 the clinker was used in the filter beds at the municipal sewage works and some had been sold to another municipal sewage works. The steam from the refuse boilers made up about one fifth of the steam required to drive the generating engines. The cost of the destructor plant and chimney was £8,000.^[5]

Trams

Accrington tramways had operated a tram system since 1886. In 1907, Accrington Corporation had formed Accrington Corporation Tramways and it purchased the tram system. It was converted to electric traction supplied from Accrington power station. The tramway system operated until 1932 when it was closed.

Supply growth

The corporation made an agreement with the Haslingden Corporation to supply it with electricity in bulk.^[6] By 1912 the Corporation planned to supply current to the Altham and Clayton-le-Moors areas. It proposed that the latter supply would require a high tension feeder cable (£1,900); a high tension switchboard (£600); and low tension distributors (£3,250); and an allowance for future extensions of £1,000; a total cost of £6,750.^[6] The Altham Colliery Company applied to the Corporation for a supply of electricity but suitable terms could not be found.^[6]

To meet the greater requirements for electricity the Corporation proposed to install gas engines to generate electricity rather than using conventional steam turbines.^[6] The Corporation assumed an installed capacity of 2,000 brake horse power (1,491 kW) and a load factor of 60 percent, it was estimated that such a scheme would realise a saving of £1,000 per year compared to conventional steam generation. Furthermore, that sale of gas generating by-products would realise £1,250 per year. The capital cost of the new plant was estimated to be £27,000.^[6] In 1912 the Power Gas Corporation of Stockton-on-Tees installed a 2,000 horse power (1,491 kW) Mond Ammonia recovery gas plant to drive two 1,000 horse power (746 kW) gas engines.^[7]

Nationalisation

Upon nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948 the ownership of Accrington power station was vested in the British Electricity Authority, and subsequently the Central Electricity Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB). At the same time the electricity distribution and sales responsibilities of the Accrington electricity undertaking were transferred to the North Western Electricity Board (NORWEB).^[4]

Final years

The commissioning of the modern and efficient Huncoat power station from 1952 made the old and low thermal efficiency Accrington power station less economic to run. In its final years the operation of Accrington power station was as follows.^[10]