Date: 23/03/2015

Scottish Power has announced plans to close its huge coal-fired power station at Longannet in Fife early next year. The move comes after the energy firm failed to win a crucial contract from National Grid. Scottish Power said it was 'extremely disappointed' at National Grid's decision. It had previously indicated Longannet would have to shut if it lost out in a contest to help maintain voltage levels in the nation's electricity supply. The SSE-operated gas-fired power station at Peterhead won the contract at the expense of Scottish Power and a third bidder.

External links

Longannet power station to close

BBC News

Scottish Power announces plans to close its huge coal-fired power station at Longannet in Fife early next year.

Related images

Coal - swallower extraordinaire. Longannet power station looking south towards the Forth in June 2005. Longannet consumes approximately 10,000 tonnes of coal per day, mainly delivered by rail from Hunterston import terminal. It has an installed capacity of 2,400 megawatts, making it the third largest coal-fired power station in Europe after Belchatow, Poland and Drax, North Yorkshire.
Location: Longannet Power Station
Company: Kincardine Line (North British Railway)
13/06/2005 John Furnevel

66227 brings Longannet empties south past Inverkeithing Central Jct on 31 May.
Location: Inverkeithing Central Junction
Company: Dunfermline and Queensferry Railway
31/05/2007 Bill Roberton

EWS 66004 passes through Alloa on its way back to Hunterston on 4 March 2009 with Longannet empties, dwarfing the 3-car 170 at the station platform forming the next service to Glasgow Queen Street.
Location: Alloa
Company: Stirling and Dunfermline Railway
04/03/2009 David Panton