Inverkip Power Station.

Inverkip power station is an oil-fired power station on the west coast of Scotland, construction began in 1970 by the then South of Scotland Electricity Board (SSEB) it was to be Scotland's first oil-fired power station.

In common with other power stations in Scotland it lacks cooling towers; instead, sea water is used as a coolant. The station consists of three generating units with a combined rating of 1900MW.

Inverkip also has the third tallest chimney in the UK coming in at 778 feet (236 Metres) in height, which dominates the local landscape.

One design feature of the power station is the lack of steam driven boiler feed pumps, with units 1 and 2 being provided with three 50% electric boiler feed pumps and unit 3 with two 50% electric feed pumps. The main turbo-generator was manufactured by Parsons, and many of the major components were interchangeable with the turbo-generators at Hunterston B around 13 miles south on the Firth of Clyde.

The facility is now owned by Scottish Power and is maintained in a mothballed condition as part of the strategic reserve, but the site will be demolished in 2009 to make way for housing and retail outlets.

Inverkip has sat quietly for decades in a mothballed state and being part of the strategic reserve it does make one wonder why they want to demolish it? that said though if it wasnt for its current state no one would of ever got to explore it.

Since hearing this place was explorable late last year it was always on the list of sites to visit not only because of its immaculate condition and pristine appearance but also because it was a power station, after all the chances of exploring a mothballed power station are some where in the regions of none and never, we have explored big industrial sites but nothing comes close to Inverkip.

The only words to describe this place are truly breath taking, the glass encased buildings which hide away the intricate turbines and generators is a site in itself but its when you actually enter you can appreciate its amazing structures and machinery.

By far the most awesome sights are the switch gear rooms and the main control centre and turbine and boiler rooms, it reminds you more of NASA than it does a power station.

We spent hours exploring here as theres so much to see you lose all track of time, sadly we didnt get to climb the chimney as its sealed but we didnt complain as everything is so amazing, definatley one of, if not the best explore in the country.