A 1.6km pipe transfers water from the intake to the powerhouse. This vertical drop, known as the 'Gross Head' of the project is 179m. The pipeline is made of High Performance Poly Ethylene (HPPE) in the upper section, and Ductile Iron (DI) in the lower section. A Gilkes Twin-Jet Pelton solution is used, operating at a design flow of 614 l/s. This turbine is an impulse type turbine which is optimised for high-head, low-to-medium-flow applications and provides high efficiency at peak power.
Initial feasibility work first started in 2009. Planning permission and SEPA license were received in late 2013 and construction mobilization started in May 2014. As well as being an investment partner in the project, Gilkes Energy was also the lead engineer, providing design, project management and construction supervision services. The lead civil contractor was George McNaugton & Son, an experienced civil contractor based locally in Lochgilphead.
The project started generating in April 2015 and was delivered on time and on budget.
- Commissioning date: April 2015
- Location: Loch Awe, Argyll
- Turbine: Twin Jet Pelton
- Intake type: Alpine
- Gross head: 179m
- Catchment area: 6.5km²
- Maximum turbine flow: 614 l/s
- Maximum output: 900kW
- Pipeline length: 1.6km
