The original coal-fired Portishead power station was built by Bristol Corporation's Electricity Department and started generating in 1929.

It supplied power to the grid[3] and in 1931 its installed capacity was advertised as being in excess of 100,000 horsepower (75 MW).

The CEA itself was abolished in 1957 and both power stations came under the control of the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB).

The generating capacity, electricity output, load factor and thermal efficiency were as shown in the table.

Coal transported to the power stations by train entered the site along the Portishead Railway.

Opened on 12 April 1867 as the Bristol and Portishead Pier and Railway Company, the line had been extended to the dock on 5 July 1879.

[13] Welsh coal was also brought across the Bristol Channel from the South Wales coalfield by a fleet of boats.

[5] The CEGB fully converted the two power stations to burn oil after collieries in the Somerset coalfield closed.

The two Radstock pits ceased production in September 1973 and the last trainload of coal arrived at the station on 16 November 1973.