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Glendoe's turbine will be able to produce up to 100 MW of energy, enough to power every home in a city the size of Glasgow. It will be the UK's most efficient hydroelectric scheme, generating more energy from every cubic metre of water than any other facility in the country.
Situated in the western end of the Monadhliath mountains, a catchment of approximately 75 km2 will feed a reservoir either directly or via a number of piped or tunnelled aqueducts. The reservoir will be impounded by a dam and water conveyed by tunnel to a cavern power station sited south east of Loch Ness. A buried twin 33 kV power circuit will connect the proposed substation with the national grid and a series of both temporary and permanent tracks are proposed.
Glendoe Hydroelectric Scheme
In 2001, ASH design + assessment was commissioned as project environmental advisors to SSE. ASH managed the environmental impact assessment for the hydroelectric scheme and co-ordinated inputs from a number of specialist sub consultants including:
- Ecological consultants (surveys of habitats and mammals, bryophytes and lichens, fresh water pearl mussels and aquatic ecology)
- Ornithologists
- Hydrologists
- Archaeologists
- Architects
- Noise consultants
The environmental surveys were carried out during 2002/2003 and ASH worked closely with SSE from the outset to ensure that the design of the preferred scheme was developed to take cognisance of the environmental impact assessment findings.
The proposed design has been developed to minimise adverse environmental impacts whilst maintaining scheme engineering and financial viability. The main potential issues of significance were associated with the close proximity of a Special Protection Area (SPA) recognised for its bird interest, and potential impacts on wild land.
Glendoe Hydro Scheme Environmental Statement
The Environmental Statement for the Glendoe hydroelectric scheme was published in May 2003 and approval for the hydroelectric scheme was received from Scottish Ministers in July 2005.
ASH has been retained as environmental consultants by SSE to assist them with environmental auditing throughout the implementation of the project. Construction commenced in Autumn 2005 and is due for completion in 2010.
For more information on the scheme visit the Glendoe Hydroelectric home page.
