A NEW gas-fired energy generation facility could be built in Over Hulton.

Stor Power has submitted plans to build an energy reserve facility with a capacity of 20 megawatts on land off Salford Road, next to a recycling plant.

Unlike a traditional power station, the development would be operated as a flexible ‘peaking plant’, meaning it can quickly respond to peaks in energy demand.  

In a statement sent to Bolton Council, the applicant said: “Reciprocating gas engine technology is a clean?burning, efficient and responsive technology that is able to generate power at very short notice, the gas fired engines will be able to reach full load in less than five minutes from cold and, after only a few hours of operation, can power down completely.  

“Typically, the energy reserve facility would be switched off, waiting for an instruction via National Grid to power?up.”

If the plans go ahead, Stor Power says that construction would be expected to last six to nine months and that the site would employ a small workforce of approximately 15 personnel.

It is understood that the site was previously part of the former Exide/GNB Batteries plant.