The Planning Inspectorate has accepted for examination, an application from C.Gen for Development Consent for the North Killingholme new power station.

The application for the proposed Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) Power Station, with an output up to 470MW, was submitted on 25 March 2013 and the decision to accept the application to proceed made on 19 April 2013 in accordance with section 55 of the Planning Act 2008 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011).

When considering whether or not to accept an application for examination, regard is given to the application documents submitted, any adequacy of consultation representations received from local authorities, and the extent to which the developer has had regard to any guidance issued. Other matters relating to the application will be considered by the Examining Authority during the examination and interested parties will have an opportunity take part in that process and make representations if they wish.

Sir Michael Pitt, Chief Executive, Planning Inspectorate said. "After careful consideration we have decided on behalf of the Secretary of State that the application submitted by C.Gen met the required tests set out in the legislation to be accepted for examination".

It is now for the applicant, C.Gen to publicise the fact that its application has been accepted to proceed to examination and invite people who are interested in the proposal to register with the Planning Inspectorate as an interested party by making a relevant representation.

During this time people will be able to register easily online by visiting the project's page and completing the online 'Registration and Relevant Representation form'. Alternatively, those without internet access may call the Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure helpline: 0303 444 5000 for a printed registration form.

Interested parties in an application can:
- Say what they agree or disagree with in the application and why
- Comment on what other people have said in their representations
- Attend a Preliminary Meeting and say how they think the application should be examined
- Request that an open floor hearing is held
- Attend and request to speak at open floor or issue-specific hearings should one be held.

Sir Michael added. "Following period to register as an Interested Party I will, on behalf of the Secretary of State, appoint the Examining Authority whose role will be to consider the evidence submitted and the representations made by interested parties and then make a recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State."

The Planning Inspectorate's Advice Note 8.3, 'How to register and become an interested party in an application' is available on the Inspectorate's website or a copy can be requested by calling 0303 444 5000.

The acceptance to proceed decision and a copy of the application can be viewed at the North Killingholme New Power Station project page on the Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure website.

Members of the public are invited to register and make a representation about the application for the North Killingholme Power Project proposal

The application for a new thermal generating station that will operate either as a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) plant or as an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plant, with a total electrical output of up to 470MWe, was submitted on 25 March 2013 and the decision to accept the application to proceed was made on 19 April 2013 in accordance with section 55 of the Planning Act 2008 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011).

The public and those interested in the proposal can register with the Planning Inspectorate between 9 May 2013 and 21 June 2013.

People can register easily online here Alternatively, they may call The Planning Inspectorate's helpline: 0303 444 5000 for a printed registration form, which must be completed and returned by 21 June 2013.

Sir Michael Pitt, Chief Executive of The Planning Inspectorate said, "This is an opportunity for people to play a part in the planning process and influence the outcome. We encourage people to get involved by registering as an interested party. By doing so, people will be able to participate fully in the examination of this proposal".

Those who register will be entitled to provide evidence in writing to support their representation, to attend the Preliminary Meeting, to request an open floor hearing and to speak at other hearings where appropriate.

A copy of the application together with further information about the proposal and how to register to make a relevant representation is available on The Planning Inspectorate website here.

More information on this application, including details of the developer's website, is available in the Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure programme of projects. Visit: the projects page at the website. Follow this application: @NKillingholme

Notes:

• Under the Localism Act, the IPC was abolished on 1 April 2012 and its work transferred to the Planning Inspectorate. A new national infrastructure directorate has been created within a restructured Planning Inspectorate.
• As from April 2012, the relevant Secretary of State is the decision maker on all national infrastructure applications for development consent. At the end of the examination of an application, which will still be completed within a maximum of six months, the Planning Inspectorate will have 3 months to make a recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State who will then have a further 3 months to reach their decision.
• The Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure Programme of Projects details the proposals which are anticipated to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate as applications in the coming months. It can be viewed here.

Copies of Application Documents
A copy of the application form and accompanying plans, maps and other documents, may be inspected free of charge at the following from 9 May 2013 until 21 June 2013:
North Lincolnshire Council Goxhill Library, Barrow upon Humber Burton Library, Burton upon Humber Brigg Library, Brigg North Lincolnshire central Library, Scunthorpe Immingham Town Council, Civic Centre, Immingham.

The documents are also available for inspection by appointment only, at COEN, Clough Lane, North KilIingholme DN40 3JP. To book an appointment please email projectkillingholme@cgenpower.com or call 01469 542 133.

Other details in relation to' the Project can be found on the Applicant's website at www.cgenpower.com.

The process in a snapshot
There are six key stages within the process. The summary below provides examples of when and how people have an opportunity to provide evidence to the Planning Inspectorate.

Pre-application
Key activities:
- project development / developer's pre-application consultation and publicity
- environmental impact assessment preparation and scoping, where required

Public involvement:
- have their say on the proposal to the developer through their pre application consultation
Acceptance by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State

Key activities:
- the Secretary of State has 28 days from the day after receipt to decide whether or not an application should be accepted for examination

Public involvement:
- details will be posted at the Planning Inspectorate's website on how to register as an interested party - once an application has been accepted for examination and publicised by the developer
- opportunity to legally challenge a decision not to accept an application

Pre-examination
Key activities:
- single Inspector or a Panel of three or more Inspectors appointed
- Preliminary Meeting called and held procedure and timetable set for examination

Public involvement:
- register to say what you agree or disagree with in the application
- submit your representation
- view application documents submitted by the developer on the Planning Inspectorate website
- attend the Preliminary Meeting
- say how the examination should be conducted

Examination
Key activities:
- a maximum of six months to carry out the examination

Public involvement:
- submit more detailed comments in writing
- comment on what other people have said
- request and attend an open-floor hearing
- If being held, request to speak at open-floor and / or issue specific hearing(s)
- comment on the local authority's Local Impact Report - detailing the impact of the scheme on the local area

Decision
Key activities:
- a maximum of three months for Planning Inspectorate to issue a recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State, with a statement of reasons
- the relevant Secretary of State then has a further three months from receiving the recommendation in which to issue the decision

Post decision
Key activities:
- six weeks for any legal challenge

Public involvement:
- opportunity to challenge

The Examining Authority has issued a letter to all interested parties, informing them that it completed its examination at 11.59pm on 11 March 2014. There will now be a period of 3 months for the Examining Authority to consider C.GEN’s application and make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change will then have 3 months in which to make their decision on whether to grant or refuse development consent for the North Killingholme Power Project.

The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has granted C.GEN development consent for the construction and operation of a thermal generating station that would operate either as a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) plant or as an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plant, with a total electrical output of up to 470MWe at North Killingholme, Lincolnshire. Further information on the Secretary of State’s decision can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

On 6 December 2016 C.GEN bought the Centrica Killingholme ‘A’ power station, which is situated on adjacent land to the North Killingholme Power Project. The intention is to demolish the existing power plant and to develop new energy projects on (part of) the land. The purchase of this land has also secured C.GEN’s access to the electrical grid and connection to the high pressure grid gas network.

National Grid assessed C.GEN’s Application in accordance with The Electricity Capacity Regulations 2014 (as amended) (“the Regulations”), the Capacity Market Rules 2014 (as amended) (“the Rules”) and the 2017 Capacity Market Auction Guidelines and issued a Prequalification Decision that C.GEN was Conditionally Prequalified.
In the meantime C.GEN has, as per Capacity Market Rule 6.6, provided credit cover to achieve the required Financial Commitment Milestone and officially Prequalified.
The De-Rated Capacity is 469.800 MW and the Maximum Obligation Period of the Capacity Agreement is 15 years.

C.GEN recently achieved another project milestone, obtaining approval for a non-material change to its existing development consent order for the project. The non-material change provides C.GEN with a further five years to implement the project. This means that C.GEN is well-placed to respond to changes in the generating market, enabling deployment of the project at the right time to meet the UK’s generating capacity needs. The five year extension allows implementation of the project by October 2026.

As with previous years, C.GEN participated in the 2022 T-4 Capacity Market Auction following successful prequalification in October 2021. Expectations in the market for a higher clearing price remained low. The auction cleared at 30.59/kwh. Although this is below the current expectations for larger scale thermal plants, the signs are encouraging for an improved capacity payment in the coming years. C.GEN is well-placed to take advantage of this, having secured its DCO extenstion, allowing implementation of the project until October 2026.

C.GEN is pleased that BEIS has confirmed that the North Killingholme project is an eligible power project for the ongoing Phase 2 carbon capture use and storage (CCUS) cluster sequencing. C.GEN’s project is within the North East Cluster area, one of two CCUS clusters earmarked for early Government support. This location means that the project is within the heart of CCUS deployment in the UK.

The Phase 2 CCUS process will evaluate projects with a view to awarding those who are successful with a despatchable power agreement (DPA). The focus is on peaking power plants, capable of ramping up and down quickly to meet high demand – which aligns with C.GEN’s own operating model. There are still several stages to go through the evaluation process, with BEIS expected to announce the shortlisted projects in May 2022.