Power restarts at SSE's hydro electric scheme

Utilities giant SSE has announced that power generation at its Glendoe hydro electric scheme, near Loch Ness, has re-started three years after a rock fall occurred in one of the tunnels.

Three gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity have already been produced and exported to the transmission network.

The rockfall occurred in the tunnel carrying water from the scheme reservoir to the power station.

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Paul Smith, Managing Director of Generation at SSE said: "The work to restore electricity generation at Glendoe has been undertaken in a very rigorous way to make sure that this strategic asset meets its original design criteria and is ready to play its full part in supporting the country's electricity system for many decades to come.

"We will continue to monitor closely the performance of Glendoe to make sure that the reconstruction work has been fully successful, ensuring sustainable generation at the site, similar to that achieved at our other schemes such as Sloy on Loch Lomond which is still generating power more than 60 years after being commissioned."

Glendoe's main operational feature is that it is able to start generating electricity at full capacity in just 30 seconds, meaning it can meet changes in demand. In a year of average rainfall, its output should be around 180GWh of electricity.

The share price rose 1.33% to 1,375p by 14:37.

NR