Lochaber hydroelectric scheme
Lochaber hydroelectric scheme | |
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Country |
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Location | Fort William, Scotland, UK |
Coordinates | 56°49′47″N 5°04′13″W / 56.8296°N 5.0702°W |
Status | Operational |
Construction began | 1924 |
Commission date | 1929 (refurbished 2008-2012) |
Power generation | |
Units operational | 5 × 17.3 MW |
Make and model | Andritz Hydro Francis turbines |
Nameplate capacity |
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External links | |
Commons | Related media on Commons |
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The Lochaber hydroelectric scheme is a
Water is collected from the River Spean catchment, plus the headwaters of the River Spey and some smaller watercourses. It contains two main reservoirs Loch Treig and Laggan Reservoir, and 18 miles (29 km) of tunnels excavated through the hillside.
The scheme was originally built between 1924 and 1943 by the
The hydroelectric scheme and aluminium smelter are still in operation.
Scheme Layout
The hydro scheme has a catchment area of 303 square miles (780 km2),[2] including the headwaters of the River Spey, the River Spean and River Treig, and the northern flanks of the Grey Corries and Ben Nevis. There are two principle reservoirs, Loch Treig and Loch Laggan (which was extended as Laggan Reservoir), both with a top water level of about 820 feet (250 m) above sea level. These reservoirs are linked by a 2¾ mile (4.4 km) long, 15 feet (4.6 m) diameter low pressure tunnel,[2] which collects water from three intermediate streams.
From Loch Treig, a main pressure tunnel 15 miles (24 km) long was driven around the
Turbines in the power house generate electricity to power the adjacent aluminium smelting plant. The power house and smelter are located to the northeast of Fort William, on the eastern bank of the River Lochy, into which the tailrace discharges.
The scheme was expanded to increase output to meet demand for aluminium in World War II.[3] Floodwaters of the Spey are captured by Spey Dam and diverted via an open cut to Loch Crunachdan then through a tunnel to Loch Laggan.[3] In addition, the River Mashie (a tributary of the Spey) is diverted via an aqueduct and tunnel into the River Pattack, which flows into Loch Laggan.
Construction
The scheme was initially designed by engineer Charles Meik but after his death in 1923, the scheme’s realisation was left to William Halcrow, by then a partner in the firm founded by Meik’s father Thomas Meik.
The project was finally sanctioned by Parliament in 1921, but construction did not start until 1924. Given the scale of construction, it was undertaken in three main phases:[2][4]
- The works to the west of Loch Treig, including the pressure tunnel, intake, powerhouse, and smelter.
- The Treig and Laggan dams, plus connecting tunnel and intakes.
- The Spey dam, Crunachdan cut and tunnel, plus the River Mashie diversion and Strathmashie tunnel.
A narrow-gauge railway was used in construction and subsequent maintenance of phases 1 and 2, see Lochaber Narrow Gauge Railway for details.
On 30 December 1929, the first aluminium was cast.[5] It took about 95% of the 82,000 kW of power generated. It eventually became part of British Aluminium.
The third phase of construction, the Spey Dam and tunnel plus the River Mashie diversion and tunnel, was supervised by Syril Minchin Roberts a partner in
Turbine upgrade
In 2008, Rio Tinto Alcan awarded a contract worth €30m for the upgrade of the hydroelectric turbines to
Present operation
Fort William Smelter
Following the closure of Rio Tinto/Alcan's other UK smelters at
The Alcan Estate
On 3 April 2021, it came to light that the Jahama Highland Estates (formerly the "
See also
- Lochaber Narrow Gauge Railway for the construction and maintenance of the water-carrying tunnel
- Problem of water in vertical shafts, see item 5 at http://www.spanglefish.com/ooooppss/index.asp?pageid=608087
References
- ^ "Rio Tinto smelter to be sold in deal worth £330m". BBC News. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ ISSN 1753-7843.
- ^ a b c "MHG55076 - Spey Dam - Highland Historic Environment Record". Highland Historic Environment Record. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ a b Cowan, Paul. "Tunnelling for Victory". Scottish Military Disasters. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Aluminium for Lochaber. Casting of first moulds. Future of the District". The Glasgow Herald. 31 December 1929. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
- ISSN 1368-1494.
- ^ a b "Andritz upgrades Scottish power station". The Engineer. 4 April 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Major upgrade for aluminium plant". BBC News. 30 January 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Aluminium smelter in on-site hydro refurbishment". Power Engineering International. 7 April 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ ANDRITZ HYDRO Company presentation May 2017 (PDF). Retrieved 13 April 2024 – via andritz.com.
- ^ "Vehicle parts plant and new jobs planned for smelter". BBC News. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Lochaber alloy wheels plant dropped in favour of new £94m recycled aluminium facility". Scottish Construction Now. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ Gill, Oliver; Millard, Rachel (3 April 2021). "Gupta acquired Scottish hunting estate in taxpayer-backed deal with SNP". Telegraph Media Group Limited.
- Miller, James (2007). The Dam Builders: Power from the Glens. Edinburgh: ISBN 978-1-84158-225-2.
- Wood, Emma (2002). The Hydro Boys. Edinburgh: Luath Press. ISBN 978-1-84282-047-6.