1. Drax Power Station - Yorkshire
Factfile
Type
Fossil fuel and wood pellet power station
Built
1974
Primary energy source
Coal and wood pellets
Electrical output
3960 MW
Energy input MW
Efficiency
35%
Carbon footprint
22.8 millions tonnes per year
Set up costs
£1.25 billion to build
Fuel costs per MWh
£25.10
Project lifetime
2023 – unless carbon capture and storage system are fitted
Decommissioning costs
£15 million
Start up
Drax runs 24 hours a day
Environmental impact
High due to carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide being produced
Reliability
High
Drax Power Station - Yorkshire

2. Indian Queens power station
Factfile
Type
Open – cycle gas turbine
Built
1996
Primary energy source
Kerosene diesel
Electrical output
140 MW
Energy input
425 MW
Efficiency
33%
Carbon footprint
tonnes per year
Set up costs
£60 million to build
Fuel costs per MW
£300
Project lifetime
30 years
Decommissioning costs
£3.5 million
Start up
15 minutes
Environmental impact
High due to carbon dioxide being produced
Reliability
High

3. North Hoyle Offshore windfarm
Factfile
Type
Wind turbine
Built
2003
Primary energy source
wind
Electrical output
60 MW
Energy input
Dependent on wind speed
Efficiency
Carbon footprint
Saves tonnes
Set up costs
£80 million to build
Fuel costs per MW
£155 – subsided to £70
Project lifetime
25 years
Decommissioning costs
Included in set up costs
Start up
Immediate
Environmental impact
Medium to low
Reliability
Only operates at full power for 35% of the year

4. St Columb Primary Shool Newquay Factfile Type
Single Wind turbine an d photovoltaic
Built
2008
Primary energy source
Wind and solar
Electrical output
19.8 kW (plus 4kW saving from solar thermal panels)
Energy input
23.8kW not taken from the national grid
Efficiency
Dependent on wind speed
Carbon footprint
Saves 11 tonnes
Set up costs
£ to build
Fuel costs per kW
50p
Project lifetime
20 years
Decommissioning costs
unknown
Start up
Immediate
Environmental impact
low
Reliability
Only operates at full power for 35% of the year – capacity reduced every night