Blocked pipes close Glendoe Hydro electric plant
Tuesday 18 August 2009
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| The Glendoe hydro scheme, which was officially opened in June. Picture courtesy of Scotavia Images |
Electricity generation has been suspended at Scottish and Southern Energy's Glendoe Hydro scheme after an unexplained rockfall partially blocked the tunnel connecting the reservoir to the power station.
Following the incident on Monday (August 18), the tunnel was drained and SSE is currently investigating the entire length before determining whether any repairs need to be made. The station's turbine has not been affected.
SSE said it did not yet know when the scheme, which was only opened in June (see this newenergyfocus story), would be generating electricity again, although it said it would provide an update in the company's half-year results, to be announced on 11 November.
Glendoe sits atop a 905m long dam on the River Tarff and comprises 16km of tunnels that transfer water to an underground turbine hall 2km from Loch Ness. The £150m plant has a maximum capacity of 100MW and was the first large-scale hydro electric station to be built in the UK since the 75MW Errochty station in Perthshire in 1957.
Ian Marchant, Chief Executive of SSE, said: "It is hugely disappointing that this problem should have arisen at Glendoe, when it appeared that the development of the scheme had been completely successful. Extreme care will be taken with the investigation and repairs to make sure the scheme emerges from this difficulty in a strong position to operate successfully over the long term."
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