New York, NY: 770mw Hudson Avenue Generating Station

(3D Satellite)

Dave Fillman posted two photos with the comment: "Historic photos from the Hudson Avenue Generating Station of the Brooklyn Edison company. First one is an arial photo from 1927, second is a photo of the world’s largest turbine from 1935."

Michael Bara: I did the last boiler inspections at the plant. Due to cracks that were found on the rivets in the steam drum on one of the boilers. Edison decided it was time to retire the plant. The steam turbines were long gone only 4 boilers remained to send steam to Manhattan.

For 10 years I was their insurance inspector they don't want any of the old stuff. If they could they would even shut down all their plants left and just work on the distribution of the electric. They want out of the steam business.

A tunnel runs under the east river from Hudson Ave to 14th street East River Station. The Brooklyn navy yard power plant now sends steam to Hudson then onto 14th st. Over at Ravenswood there is a small steam plant with 4 B&W boilers that just send steam under the river to 74th st steam plant. Both tunnels are way under the river and you can walk thru them form end to end.

1
Also, bklynlibrary
"Hudson Avenue Generating Station of the Brooklyn [Consolidated] Edison Company seen from the air. The greatest concentration of power anywhere in the world is found in this station dedicated to the service of Brooklyn."

2

"Completed in stages between 1924 and 1932, Hudson Avenue was rated at 770-megawatts, at the time the world’s most powerful steam electric station. Hudson Avenue supplied power to Brooklyn and Queens as well as steam to Manhattan for heat, hot water, and cooling through its steam system — the largest commercial steam system in the United States. Indeed, Hudson Avenue Station became a pioneer of what’s known as cogeneration, or the production of steam for heating and cooling with electricity as a by-product. In time, the Hudson Avenue plant ceased electric generation and produced steam only. By 2011, just four of the plant’s original 32 boilers were still operational, with the rest having been retired in previous years. In February 2011, the remaining four boilers, which burned dirty and expensive No. 6 fuel oil, were retired in an effort by Con Ed to reduce its steam system emissions and lower costs to steam customers." [Belluckfox]

Burning fuel oil would explain why I could not find the remnants of a coal storage yard. All of those tanks on the left were probably their fuel storage.

3D Satellite

We can see the bases of the four smokestacks on the old building. But the unit on the right had some sort of upgrade because its smokestack base is higher than the others. This 2008 Flickr photo shows the newer smokestack is still standing.

That Flickr photo also showed that ConEd still has a massive switchyard on the waterfront.

3D Satellite

11 interior photos  When the World Trade Center was destroyed, this plant lost 40% of its steam demand. Better equipment at 14th Street now supplies the steam for what is left.