In 2013 SSE indicated that the power station would not comply with the Industrial Emissions Directive, requiring the plant's closure by 2023 or earlier.

The boilers were designed to produce superheated steam at 315 psi (21.4 atm) at 700 °F (371 °C)[15] The turbine/generator section had two 3,000 rpm three stage reaction turbines driving alternators rated at 19 MW continuous.

The buildings are now used as offices and workshops,[11] by the RWE npower Technical Support Group, who are responsible for the maintenance and repairs of power station plant from around the country.

[24] The power station was originally built for and operated by the Central Electricity Generating Board.

On 1 November 1965, three of the cooling towers collapsed due to vibrations from Kármán turbulence in 85 mph (137 km/h) winds.

[11][27][28] Commission of Ferrybridge C began in 1966: one unit was brought on line, feeding electricity into the National Grid, on 27 February 1966.

[32] In addition to the main generating sets the plant originally had four gas turbines with a combined capacity of 68 MW.

tons a year in 1,000-ton Merry-go-round trains at the rate of 17 a day)[34] and road transport and barge (initially 1m.

[35] Another source mentions that the last time the barge unloader operated was on 17 December 2002[36] Rail transport comprised a branch off the adjacent Swinton and Milford Junction line.

[37][38] The automatic unloading equipment for the coal trains was built by Rhymney Engineering, a Powell Duffryn company.

[11] In 2005, SSE took the decision to fit Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) to the plant, installing equipment to scrub half of Ferrybridge's output; the decision was required to partially meet the specifications of the Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD).

[45] In December 2013, SSE announced that Ferrybridge would opt out from (not comply with) the EU Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU); this would require the plant to close by the end of 2023, or on completing 17,500 hours of operation after 1 January 2016.

[50] A plant used to remove sulphur dioxide from gases produced from the power station caught fire.

The black smoke coming from the coal-fired power station affected nearby roads, including the M62, with drivers and householders advised to keep windows shut.

[citation needed] After the fire, only Unit 3 remained in full operation causing energy output to decrease and leading to a rise in the cost of running it.

[6] The main boiler house, bunker bay and two 198-metre (650 ft) high chimney stacks were demolished on 22 August 2021.

[citation needed] The final three cooling towers, at first intended to be kept for a future gas-fired power station, were demolished on 17 March 2022[8] and the site was offered for sale.

[59] Parts of 'C' station – including three of the original cooling towers, the electricity switch house and the substation – were going to be retained for its use.

[citation needed] The plans were not taken forward, and in April 2020 the application to reserve capacity on the gas transmission network was cancelled.

[60] In October 2011, SSE was granted Section 36 planning permission to construct a 68 MW waste-to-energy plant at its Ferrybridge site.

[63][64] It occupied part of the course at Ferrybridge Golf Club, and in 2013 SSE undertook to provide a replacement nine-hole course and clubhouse nearby.

[citation needed] Both plants were built by Multifuel Energy Limited, a 50:50 joint venture between SSE and Wheelabrator, a division of American company Waste Management.

[67] SSE sold its share of the joint venture to First Sentier Investors in January 2021, as part of a programme of disposal of non-core assets.

[69][70] On 30 November 2011, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, officially opened a carbon capture pilot plant at Ferrybridge Power Station.

The carbon capture plant was constructed in partnership with Doosan Power Systems, Vattenfall and the Technology Strategy Board.