Cruachan Power Station

The Cruachan Dam is a pumped-storage hydroelectric dam and power station in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The turbine hall is located inside Ben Cruachan, and the scheme takes water from Cruachan Reservoir to Loch Awe. It is one of only four pumped storage power stations in the UK. HistoryThe power station was built in the early 1960s, and was opened by the Queen on 15 October 1965. It was designed by Sir Edward MacColl, who died before it opened. The power station was originally operated by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, but has been owned by Scottish Power since the privatisation of Britain's electricity industry in 1990. Its construction was linked to that of Hunterston A nuclear power station, to store surplus night-time nuclear generated electricity. At the peak of the construction, there were around 1300 people working on the project. Thirty-six men died in the construction of the power station and dam. In 2003 the station's turbines were uprated from 100MW to 120MW each. DesignWater is pumped from Loch Awe to the upper reservoir, 360 m above, during periods of low energy use (such as at night). Additionally the upper reservoir receives rainwater; tunnels have been built through Ben Cruachan to catch rain coming from all sides of the mountain. Around 10% of the energy from the station is generated from rainwater; the rest is from the water pumped up from Loch Awe.

The Cruachan Dam is a pumped-storage hydroelectric dam and power station in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The turbine hall is located inside Ben Cruachan, and the scheme takes water from Cruachan Reservoir to Loch Awe. It is one of only four pumped storage power stations in the UK. HistoryThe power station was built in the early 1960s, and was opened by the Queen on 15 October 1965. It was designed by Sir Edward MacColl, who died before it opened. The power station was originally operated by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, but has been owned by Scottish Power since the privatisation of Britain's electricity industry in 1990. Its construction was linked to that of Hunterston A nuclear power station, to store surplus night-time nuclear generated electricity. At the peak of the construction, there were around 1300 people working on the project. Thirty-six men died in the construction of the power station and dam. In 2003 the station's turbines were uprated from 100MW to 120MW each. DesignWater is pumped from Loch Awe to the upper reservoir, 360 m above, during periods of low energy use (such as at night). Additionally the upper reservoir receives rainwater; tunnels have been built through Ben Cruachan to catch rain coming from all sides of the mountain. Around 10% of the energy from the station is generated from rainwater; the rest is from the water pumped up from Loch Awe.