 During the 1990s , the station became one of the UK 's least efficient power stations . In 1998 , plans were announced to use the station as a test @-@ bed for clean coal technology , but the plans did not come to fruition . In 1999 , then owners Innogy decided to take Blyth A out of operation , while Blyth B began operating only at times of peak demand , because the stations had become surplus to their generating needs . From 1 April 2000 onwards the station was taken out of service for the summer months , because of the low demand for electricity at that time of year . However , staff were retained to maintain the station . Innogy then began looking for a buyer for the station , to decide the site 's future . They had been in talks with American based NRG Energy , over a £ 410 million purchase of the station , along with the Killingholme Power Station in North Lincolnshire . There had also been rumours that a deal had been made to convert the station into a waste @-@ to @-@ energy plant . However , any plans to save the station fell through and the generation of electricity at the station ceased on 31 January 2001 , after 43 years of operating , resulting in the loss of 131 jobs . 
