Vale residents complain over noisy power station

Tuesday 10 September 2019

People living near the power station have complained about a loud humming noise, which can be heard across parts of the Vale and St Sampson's.

Guernsey Electricity says it has addressed those concerns, after many took to social media to complain about the sound of the old cooling towers, which are being used while the utility carries out work on the Guernsey-Jersey subsea cable.

Although Guernsey Electricity has invested in new, quieter equipment, it says it has to carry out commissioning testing before the old towers can be decommissioned.

"The role of the power station is to provide security of energy supply for the island," a spokesperson for the company said. "It is a back-up measure."

Pictured: A visiting cable-laying ship has been in the island this week preparing the seabed as part of the works.

"As part of the final stages of the works to replace the subsea electricity cable and return Guernsey to importing 90% of its electricity from sustainable sources in France, the existing cable needs to be turned off for short periods of time to allow safe working adjacent to the cable. Over the course of the next two months when the cable is switched off the power station will be used for electricity generation.

"We are working hard to replace the Guernsey to Jersey subsea cable and keep the power station to a minimum. We will be importing low carbon electricity by the end of the year."

The Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation says it has "no current complaints" in relation to noise from the Guernsey Electricity site.

Some nearby residents have said the sound is "intrusive" while others claim it can be heard all over the island, and is keeping many other people up at night. One of those living closest to the power station said they have to wear ear defenders at night to be able to sleep through the noise. 

Previously, Guernsey Electricity had to buy some houses behind the power station because of previous complaints about vibrations and noises. Those were linked with the new generators installed in 2013. 

Pictured top: The Vale power station.