Bankside Power Station
Now Tate Modern β the power station that became an art gallery. Bankside Power Station is a 300 MW coal-fired power station in London, England, operated by CEGB (historic).
- London
- England
- Commissioned 1952
- Closed 1981
- Planning (completed)
- Consented (completed)
- Construction (completed)
- Operating1952 (completed)
- Closed1981 (current stage)
Key facts
- Installed capacity
- 300 MW
- Status
- Decommissioned
- Technology
- Coal
- Operator
- CEGB (historic)
- Region
- London
- Country
- England
- Coordinates
- 51.5076, -0.0994
- Commissioned
- 1952
- Closed
- 1981
- Chimney height m
- 99
- Architect
- Sir Giles Gilbert Scott
- Current use
- Tate Modern art gallery
Location
Map position from the published coordinates. For small sites this can be an approximate point rather than the exact boundary. Map Β© OpenStreetMap contributors.
How Bankside Power Station compares
Coal-fired stations burned coal to raise steam for turbines. Great Britain's last coal-fired power station, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, closed in September 2024.
All coal-fired power stations Power stations in LondonAbout Bankside Power Station
Bankside on the south bank of the Thames was an oil-fired power station designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. Since 2000 it has housed Tate Modern, one of the world's most visited art museums.
History
Designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (also the architect of Battersea) and completed in 1952 as an oil-fired station. Closed in 1981. Transformed by Herzog & de Meuron into Tate Modern, which opened in 2000. Its 99m central chimney is deliberately shorter than St Paul's Cathedral opposite. One of the most successful industrial-to-cultural conversions in the world.
The site today
Converted to Tate Modern by Herzog & de Meuron, opening May 2000. One of the most visited art galleries in the world with over 5 million visitors annually.
Did you know?
- Now houses Tate Modern (opened 2000)
- Designed by the architect of Battersea and the red telephone box
- Chimney deliberately kept shorter than St Paul's opposite
- Over 5 million visitors per year as an art gallery
Nearby power stations
- Battersea Power Station Β· 509 MW coal-fired power station4.3 km
- SELCHP Β· 35 MW energy-from-waste plant4.3 km
- Enfield Β· 408 MW CCGT gas power station10.2 km
- Londonwaste Ltd Β· 58 MW energy-from-waste plant12.5 km
- Beckton Β· 0.45 MW solar farm13.4 km
- Croydon Β· 50 MW open-cycle gas power station14.5 km
- Croydon B Power Station Β· 255 MW coal-fired power station14.9 km
- Riverside - Energy from Waste Β· 80 MW energy-from-waste plant15.7 km
Also operated by CEGB (historic)
CEGB (historic) operates 4 sites in the register. Largest first:
Source
Bankside Power Station.
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