Recognize this abandoned power plant? Of course you do – it’s one of the more well-known power plants in the world, featured in more movies, music videos and albums covers than you probably realize. You’ve seen it on the cover of albums by Pink Floyd and The Who, and it was filmed in The Beatle’s Help, Full Metal Jacket, Aliens, Children of Men, and recently The Dark Knight. The Battersea Power Station hasn’t produced any power since 1983, but soon its set to be part of a major eco-renovation, that will supply London with clean renewable energy in addition to carbon-neutral apartments, offices and parks.
The Battersea Power Station, which happens to be the largest brick building in Europe, had a generating capacity of 503 MW using only coal for it’s power source. As you would expect, the art-deco power plant was incredibly dirty and polluting even with the scrubbers they later installed. After its closure in 1983, the abandoned power plant went through many hands and had plans for a number of new developments, none of which materialized. The latest plan for the station is brought to you by Real Estate Opportunities, who propose a spectacular eco-upgrade – one which could make the iconic site a national treasure.
This is the latest bit of fiction to surround the famous landmark. I’ll believe it when I see it, certainly a more worthy idea than the previous 10 or so plans.
I couldn’t agree with Karl’s comments more. I’ll believe it when they get planning consent (which for a project of this size will take much longer than one year) and then when they start building.