Perthshire North MSP John Swinney has officially opened a new Scottish hydro power project in Kinloch Rannoch.
The Allt Mor Hydro scheme has been developed by a joint venture formed between Mór Hydro Ltd and Dunalastair Estate and funded by Clydesdale Bank.
The scheme is one of the highest head small hydro projects in Scotland with a gross pressure head of 250m. Utilising a Coanda screen input and a Pelton turbine the scheme will deliver more than 1GWh to the grid each year.
With an output of 350kW, the scheme has been constructed on the Allt Mor burn at Kinloch Rannoch. Located in a National Scenic Area and at the junction of two core paths the scheme has been designed to provide both educational and architectural interest to visitors.
The powerhouse is fitted with a large viewing window and visitors can learn about the development of hydro power in the Tummel valley, from the adjacent 18th century mill house, through large scale development of grid connected hydro under the Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Act 1943, to the current developments under Feed in Tariffs.
Swinney said: “This small hydro scheme represents one of the new generation of micro-hydro projects developed in Scotland as part of the Scottish Government’s ambitious renewables targets.
“The innovative design represents the best in contemporary design, community inclusion and protection for our landscape.
“Here in Scotland we have an endowment of renewable energy opportunities thanks to our exceptional topography. Micro hydro schemes such as Allt Mor have a crucial role in harnessing Scotland’s renewable energy.”
Pixie Energy is an incubator and a facilitator of strategic research and project work, focusing on energy regulation, policy and markets at the local and national level. Find out more about Pixie Energy