Cruachan Power Station
The Cruachan Dam
The Cruachan Power Station. Sometimes called the Cruachan Dam is a pumped-storage hydroelectric power station in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Where its turbines pump water from Loch Awe to an upper reservoir on the mountainside . It is designed to store excess power from the grid. The stored water is released back through the turbines to generate power quickly and reliably when demand increases. The scheme can provide 440 megawatts (MW )of power. And has a capacity of 7.1 GWh. Cruachan’s battery-like capacity for storing its own and excess electricity from the grid. Means it can stabilise Scotland’s power network. With an ability to supply power within minutes during the frequent outages.
The Turbine Hall
The turbine hall is located inside Ben Cruachan itself. While the scheme takes water between Cruachan Reservoir to Loch Awe. A height difference of 396 metres (1,299 ft). The construction began in 1959 to coincide with the Hunterston A nuclear power station in Ayrshire. The power station uses cheap off-peak electricity generated at night to pump water to the higher reservoir, which can then be released during the day to provide power as necessary. The power station is open to visitors, and around 50,000 tourists visit it each year.
| Cruachan Power Station | |
|---|---|
| Country | Scotland |
| Location | Argyll and Bute |
| Coordinates | 56°24′23″N 05°06′47″W / 56.40639°N 5.11306°W / 56.40639; -5.11306Coordinates: 56°24′23″N 05°06′47″W / 56.40639°N 5.11306°W / 56.40639; -5.11306 |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1959[1] |
| Opening date | 15 October 1965 |
| Owner(s) | Drax Power |
| Upper reservoir | |
| Creates | Cruachan Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 10,000,000 m3 (350,000,000 cu ft)[2] |
| Lower reservoir | |
| Creates | Loch Awe |
| Power Station | |
| Hydraulic head | 396 m (1,299 ft) |
| Pump-generators | 4 |
| Installed capacity | 440 MW (590,000 hp) |
| Annual generation | 705 GWh (2,540 TJ) (2009)[3] |
The ‘Hollow Mountain’ Cruachan Power Station is to undergo a £1million upgrade to modernise its turbine control system. The hydroelectric pumped storage plant’s computer system will be replaced with a new one designed to improve energy efficiency.