Minister’s visit marks official opening of gas facility

The Aldbrough facility comprises nine underground caverns, which have been formed by using seawater to leach out salt deposits some 2km under ground.

The seawater is replaced by gas under pressure, in a process known as dewatering.

Six of the nine caverns at Aldbrough are already storing gas.

Leaching at the remaining three caverns has been completed; testing has been completed on two of those caverns and they are being prepared to accept gas.

All three of the remaining caverns should be ready for operation by the summer of 2012.

When fully commissioned, Aldbrough will ultimately have the capacity to store 330m cubic metres (mcm) of gas.

It will have the capacity to deliver gas to the National Transmission System at a rate of up to 40mcm per day, equivalent to the average daily consumption of eight million homes, and the ability to have up to 30mcm of gas per day injected.

Aldbrough will provide around 7 per cent of the total gas storage capacity in the UK and around 25 per cent of gas deliverability.

The ownership of Aldbrough is divided between SSE and Statoil (UK), the Norwegian energy giant on a two-thirds/one-third basis.

The companies’ total investment in the development and construction of Aldbrough is expected to be around £435m.

They have consent to extend the Aldbrough development but concluded during 2010 that an investment decision on the extension should be deferred while the UK government develops its policy on gas security.

SSE already owns and operates a 325mcm gas storage facility at Hornsea, 18km from the Aldbrough site.

Mr Hendry said: “Together with our domestic production and imports, gas storage is a crucial part of ensuring we keep the lights on.

“This project is a fantastic example of how close co-operation with our neighbours can bring real benefits.

“The facility and workforce here in Aldbrough will make a vital contribution to the UK’s energy security.”

Alistair Phillips-Davies, generation and supply director of SSE, said: “This official opening confirms the contribution that the Aldbrough development is already making to gas security in the UK and confirms that the construction of another of SSE’s large capital projects is on course for completion in 2012.”