LAWERS DAM, SCOTLAND - 22 FEBRUARY, 2010
In the shadow of Ben Lawers the reservoir behind Lawers Dam is frozen solid by the harsh winter of 2010. Constructed in the 1950's the dam holds water back which is released via pressurised pipelines to the power station in the valley below.
SLOY SPILLWAY, SCOTLAND - 4 FEBRUARY, 2010
A 1 hour moonlight exposure reveals the landscape falling away from the top of Sloy Dam.
LOCH LYON, SCOTLAND - 24 FEBRUARY, 2010
Frozen solid during the harsh winter Loch Lyon is the first reservoir and catchment of the complex Glen Lyon hydroelctric system.
LOCH BREICHLACH, SCOTLAND - 24 FEBRUARY, 2010
Loch Breichlach lies almost 600m above sea-level and is 9km from the nearest road. The shale dam holds back water which is drained via a seperate structure towards St Fillans Power Station.
SLOY POWER STATION, SCOTLAND - 4 MARCH, 2010
Engineers test the main purge valve of the dam. Used in emergencies when the dam is at capacity as is being filled at a rate that exceeds the turbines usage flow.
LOCH RANNOCH, SCOTLAND - 22 JULY, 2010
3 pipes run in parallel accelerating water towards Rannoch Power Station.
DEANIE POWER STATION, SCOTLAND - 10 JULY, 2010
An unlined bedrock access tunnel leads 160m into the side of Glen Strathfarrar.
FOYERS POWER STATION, SCOTLAND - 4 MARCH, 2010 4 MARCH, 2010
Inconspicious on the shores of the famous Loch Ness, Foyers is one of Britains most powerful and modern Power Stations. 2 huge 40 m deep shafts scoured into the bed-rock house twin massive hydroelectric turbines. Used during peak hours the turbines can go from zero to full power in under 20 seconds. Interestingly the flow can be reversed during low-load to refil the reservoir.
FOYERS POWER STATION, SCOTLAND - 4 MARCH, 2010
Inconspicious on the shores of the famous Loch Ness Foyers is one of Britains most powerful and modern Power Stations. 2 huge 40 m deep shafts scoured into the bed-rock house twin massive hydroelectric turbines. Used during peak hours the turbines can go from zero to full power in under 20 seconds. Interestingly the flow can be reversed during low-load to refil the reservoir.
FOYERS POWER STATION, SCOTLAND - 4 MARCH, 2010
Inconspicious on the shores of the famous Loch Ness Foyers is one of Britains most powerful and modern Power Stations. 2 huge 40 m deep shafts scoured into the bed-rock house twin massive hydroelectric turbines. Used during peak hours the turbines can go from zero to full power in under 20 seconds. Interestingly the flow can be reversed during low-load to refil the reservoir.
TUMMEL POWER STATION, SCOTLAND - 05 MARCH, 2010
The unusual tranversally mouted turbines are housed in a grand power station. The doors at the end are the largest teak doors in Britain and typify the investment in substance and longevity of the engineering. An engineer does his weekly maintainance checks on machinery still running after 40 years.
SLOY CONTROL ROOM, SCOTLAND - 4 MARCH, 2010
Modernised in 1980 this control panel helps automate and regulate the turbines. The machinery built in the 1950's has proved incredibly reliable and feeds renewable energy into the National Grid. It was opened by the queen and was at one point the most powerful hydro station in Europe. A pyramid system that ends with Sloy Station feeding into Loch Lomond.
LOCHAY POWER STATION, SCOTLAND - 16 JULY, 2010
An engineer inspects the spiral casing of 1 of 2 main turbines at Lochay Power Station that depending on water levles operate between 10 and 30% load. The machinery built in the 1950's has proved incredibly reliable and feeds renewable energy into the National Grid.
SLOY DAM, SCOTLAND - 21 JULY, 2010
This abandoned construction area was used to excavate the 200m deep surge shaft that uses gravity to prevent any overpressurisation of the turbines down the hill. The original gantryu crane simply lies abandoned in-site.
SLOY POWER STATION, SCOTLAND - 4 MARCH, 2010
1 of 4 main turbines at Sloy Power Station that depending on water levles operate between 10 and 30% load. The machinery built in the 1950's has proved incredibly reliable and feeds renewable energy into the National Grid. It was opened by the queen and was at one point most powerful hydro station in Europe. A pyramid system that ends with Sloy Station feeding into Loch Lomond.
LOCH BREICHLACH, SCOTLAND - 20 JULY, 2010
Loch Breichlach lies almost 600m above sea-level and is 9km from the nearest road. The shale dam holds back water which is drained via a seperate structure towards St Fillans Power Station. These engineers are conducting an annual inspection of the dam's internal structure and valves. The confined spaces are treated with great respect as any injury or accident would require a tricky rescue operation.
LOCH BREICHLACH, SCOTLAND - 20 JULY, 2010
Loch Breichlach lies almost 600m above sea-level and is 9km from the nearest road. The shale dam holds back water which is drained via a seperate structure towards St Fillans Power Station. These engineers are conducting an annual inspection of the dam's internal structure and valves. The confined spaces are treated with great respect as any injury or accident would require a tricky rescue operation.
SLOY DAM, SCOTLAND - 21 JULY, 2010
Engineers tour and inspect the facilities in pairs often hours from the nearest road. The weather and access are constant dangers and challenges.
SLOY DAM, SCOTLAND - 21 JULY, 2010
Engineers tour and inspect the facilities in pairs often hours from the nearest road. The weather and access are constant dangers and challenges. Deep inside Sloy Dam a structure called the pendulum measures movement of the dam by geological or pressure change. A high tensile wore stretching from the very top of the dam to its base etches a path in wax paper that is periodically inspected. Although modern dams use lasers and ultrasound for remote monitering the harsh conditions of Scotland favours old-school methods.
LOCHAY POWER STATION, SCOTLAND - 19 JULY, 2010
An engineer transports heavy lifting gear to a small turbine connected to a fish pass. The fish lock enables salmon to bypass turbine flow that would hinder their passage to migratory streams.
PITLOCHRY DAM, SCOTLAND - 27 JULY, 2010
Pitlochry Dam has a busy visitor's centre due to its incredible fish ladder. A complex series of cascades enable young and mature salmon to bypass the dam. This grab clears debris from the screens that prevents the salmon entering the machinery in the power station.
LOCHAY POWER STATION, SCOTLAND - 19 JULY, 2010
Engineers study the original engineering diagrams at Lochay Power Station that depending on water levles operate between 10 and 30% load. The machinery built in the 1950's has proved incredibly reliable and feeds renewable energy into the National Grid.
SLOY SUBSTATION, SCOTLAND - 26 JULY, 2010
Senior engineers perform a supervised high voltage switching operation.
LOCH LEATHAN, SCOTLAND - 13 MAY, 2010
Looking across the channel towards the mainland the Loch Leathan Dam can be seen. This modest water catchment and power Station at the cliff base first replaced the expensive and unreliable diesel generatored ouput of Skye in 1949.