Thursday 14 September 2017

Carlisle's first power station

I'd never noticed the label on this building opposite the swimming baths. It turns out to be Carlisle's first power station from 1899. According to http://www.cumbria-industries.org.uk/a-z-of-industries/electricity/ it had a capacity of 370 kW. According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_onshore_wind_farms_in_the_United_Kingdom one of the wind turbines at Great Orton (Watchtree) has a nominal capacity of 660 kW and that's for an old wind turbine. There are some land based turbines in Cumbria rated as 2300 kW. No wonder it was for electric lighting. The use of kettles or heaters would have over loaded the system!