A decade of keeping lights switched on at Staythorpe C Power Station

2020 marked the tenth anniversary of Staythorpe C Power Station ­— and the 70th anniversary of power generation on the site.

RWE, the owner of the station, started its construction in 2007 on a site that formerly housed two coal-fired power stations ­— Staythorpe A and Staythorpe B.

Staythorpe C, a combined cycle gas turbine power station, the second largest flexible gas plant in the UK, became operational and was subsequently connected to the UK grid in November 2010.

For the last decade, Staythorpe has provided an invaluable service, generating more than 1700MW of electricity ­— enough to power around 2.8m homes and businesses and has contributed massively to the maintenance of the secure supply of electricity in the UK.

Despite covid-19 restrictions postponing several planned celebration events, RWE was still able to find a way to commemorate the station’s anniversary.

The power station’s social committee, with input from site team members, organised for all staff and contractors to receive a limited-edition bespoke model of the station.

These models consist of many hundreds of parts and were developed and designed by supplier Bricklive Group.

The station will plan a competition to give away a number of these one-of-a-kind models to the community and schools in the new year.

A number of Lego sets were also donated to the station’s charity Beaumond House Hospice Care.

In addition to the model, a Mindfulness Garden is to be planted on the grounds of the station. It is hoped that this will offer employees a place to rest and enjoy during breaks and provide recreation for the greener fingered team members.

Additionally, Unit 1 generator at the station will be named after Jez Watson, a valued member of the team who died suddenly in 2018, where a plaque will be installed.

Dave Dyson, station manager, said: “It has been a great ten years here at Staythorpe and I’d like to thank the entire team for all their hard work, especially during the difficult times we find ourselves in now. Staythorpe has been integral to the UK’s energy mix for decades, and as one of the largest and most efficient power stations of its kind in Europe, it will continue to play a crucial role in future.

“Our anniversary is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the contribution that every member of the team has made over the past decade. The social committee has done a fantastic job commemorating the station and everyone that works here.”