A Run-of-River Hydro Scheme in West Scotland

Alex Reading, head of our hydro team and chairman of the British Hydro Association, has been busy on site at one of our run-of-river hydro projects. The 5.8MW scheme is made up of one 1.8MW scheme and two 2MW schemes that feed into one grid connection. Throughout the pandemic, the project has employed local specialists who take pride in what they do, building projects which will provide renewable energy to the rural communities in Scotland. Although small in scale, these projects are vital to balancing the energy demand in the local area. As the river rises and falls, so does the energy produced. In the wintertime, when energy demand is at its highest, the schemes can produce consistent power due to the high level of rainfall.
The project is currently in the restoration phase, where the surrounding area is encouraged to grow around the schemes. After a few years, the infrastructure will have blended in with the local environment.