The needs of industry for reliable inspection-thermal power generation needs

Since privatisation of the UK Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) in 1989, much has happened that could have affected structural reliability. National Power´s market share of fossil fuel power generation was 60% of the CEGB´s original plant assets but since then, there have been a number of power station closures, new power stations built, Combined Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGTs) and in 1996, there will be a regulatory requirement to divest 4000 MW of coal fired plant. In addition, National Power has acquired 3500 MW of generation plant overseas. National Power´s market share can be affected by commercial pressures and availability, so there needs to be a commercial awareness that is robust but does not compromise safety. This paper describes how the management of the company´s assets including the structural reliability of aging plant in diverse environments is now therefore complex and difficult to achieve