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Breadalbane Hydro-Electric Scheme

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67-548: The Breadalbane Hydro-Electric Scheme is a hydroelectric scheme in the Breadalbane area of Perthshire , Scotland . It comprises seven power stations which generate 120MW of power from the dams around Loch Lyon , Loch Earn and Loch Tay . The politician Tom Johnston during his time as Secretary of State for Scotland, championed the Hydro-electric Development (Scotland) Act 1943, which created

134-745: A greenhouse gas . According to the World Commission on Dams report, where the reservoir is large compared to the generating capacity (less than 100 watts per square metre of surface area) and no clearing of the forests in the area was undertaken prior to impoundment of the reservoir, greenhouse gas emissions from the reservoir may be higher than those of a conventional oil-fired thermal generation plant. In boreal reservoirs of Canada and Northern Europe, however, greenhouse gas emissions are typically only 2% to 8% of any kind of conventional fossil-fuel thermal generation. A new class of underwater logging operation that targets drowned forests can mitigate

201-463: A low-head hydro power plant with hydrostatic head of few meters to few tens of meters can be classified either as an SHP or an LHP. The other distinction between SHP and LHP is the degree of the water flow regulation: a typical SHP primarily uses the natural water discharge with very little regulation in comparison to an LHP. Therefore, the term SHP is frequently used as a synonym for the run-of-the-river power plant . The largest power producers in

268-421: A flood and fail. Changes in the amount of river flow will correlate with the amount of energy produced by a dam. Lower river flows will reduce the amount of live storage in a reservoir therefore reducing the amount of water that can be used for hydroelectricity. The result of diminished river flow can be power shortages in areas that depend heavily on hydroelectric power. The risk of flow shortage may increase as

335-494: A hydroelectric complex is constructed, it produces no direct waste, and almost always emits considerably less greenhouse gas than fossil fuel -powered energy plants. However, when constructed in lowland rainforest areas, where part of the forest is inundated, substantial amounts of greenhouse gases may be emitted. Construction of a hydroelectric complex can have significant environmental impact, principally in loss of arable land and population displacement. They also disrupt

402-809: A large natural height difference between two waterways, such as a waterfall or mountain lake. A tunnel is constructed to take water from the high reservoir to the generating hall built in a cavern near the lowest point of the water tunnel and a horizontal tailrace taking water away to the lower outlet waterway. A simple formula for approximating electric power production at a hydroelectric station is: P = − η   ( m ˙ g   Δ h ) = − η   ( ( ρ V ˙ )   g   Δ h ) {\displaystyle P=-\eta \ ({\dot {m}}g\ \Delta h)=-\eta \ ((\rho {\dot {V}})\ g\ \Delta h)} where Efficiency

469-451: A larger amount of methane than those in temperate areas. Like other non-fossil fuel sources, hydropower also has no emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, or other particulates. Reservoirs created by hydroelectric schemes often provide facilities for water sports , and become tourist attractions themselves. In some countries, aquaculture in reservoirs is common. Multi-use dams installed for irrigation support agriculture with

536-592: A positive risk adjusted return, unless appropriate risk management measures are put in place. While many hydroelectric projects supply public electricity networks, some are created to serve specific industrial enterprises. Dedicated hydroelectric projects are often built to provide the substantial amounts of electricity needed for aluminium electrolytic plants, for example. The Grand Coulee Dam switched to support Alcoa aluminium in Bellingham, Washington , United States for American World War II airplanes before it

603-548: A relatively constant water supply. Large hydro dams can control floods, which would otherwise affect people living downstream of the project. Managing dams which are also used for other purposes, such as irrigation , is complicated. In 2021 the IEA called for "robust sustainability standards for all hydropower development with streamlined rules and regulations". Large reservoirs associated with traditional hydroelectric power stations result in submersion of extensive areas upstream of

670-540: A result of climate change . One study from the Colorado River in the United States suggest that modest climate changes, such as an increase in temperature in 2 degree Celsius resulting in a 10% decline in precipitation, might reduce river run-off by up to 40%. Brazil in particular is vulnerable due to its heavy reliance on hydroelectricity, as increasing temperatures, lower water flow and alterations in

737-448: A small TV/radio). Even smaller turbines of 200–300 W may power a few homes in a developing country with a drop of only 1 m (3 ft). A Pico-hydro setup is typically run-of-the-river , meaning that dams are not used, but rather pipes divert some of the flow, drop this down a gradient, and through the turbine before returning it to the stream. An underground power station is generally used at large facilities and makes use of

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804-455: A source of low-cost renewable energy. Alternatively, small hydro projects may be built in isolated areas that would be uneconomic to serve from a grid, or in areas where there is no national electrical distribution network. Since small hydro projects usually have minimal reservoirs and civil construction work, they are seen as having a relatively low environmental impact compared to large hydro. This decreased environmental impact depends strongly on

871-414: A start-up time of the order of a few minutes. Although battery power is quicker its capacity is tiny compared to hydro. It takes less than 10 minutes to bring most hydro units from cold start-up to full load; this is quicker than nuclear and almost all fossil fuel power. Power generation can also be decreased quickly when there is a surplus power generation. Hence the limited capacity of hydropower units

938-581: A total of 1,500 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electrical energy in one full cycle" which was "about 170 times more energy than the global fleet of pumped storage hydropower plants". Battery storage capacity is not expected to overtake pumped storage during the 2020s. When used as peak power to meet demand, hydroelectricity has a higher value than baseload power and a much higher value compared to intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar. Hydroelectric stations have long economic lives, with some plants still in service after 50–100 years. Operating labor cost

1005-491: A year's worth of rain fell within 24 hours (see 1975 Banqiao Dam failure ). The resulting flood resulted in the deaths of 26,000 people, and another 145,000 from epidemics. Millions were left homeless. The creation of a dam in a geologically inappropriate location may cause disasters such as 1963 disaster at Vajont Dam in Italy, where almost 2,000 people died. BAM Nuttall Too Many Requests If you report this error to

1072-452: Is hydroelectric power on a scale serving a small community or industrial plant. The definition of a small hydro project varies but a generating capacity of up to 10 megawatts (MW) is generally accepted as the upper limit. This may be stretched to 25 MW and 30 MW in Canada and the United States. Small hydro stations may be connected to conventional electrical distribution networks as

1139-635: Is also usually low, as plants are automated and have few personnel on site during normal operation. Where a dam serves multiple purposes, a hydroelectric station may be added with relatively low construction cost, providing a useful revenue stream to offset the costs of dam operation. It has been calculated that the sale of electricity from the Three Gorges Dam will cover the construction costs after 5 to 8 years of full generation. However, some data shows that in most countries large hydropower dams will be too costly and take too long to build to deliver

1206-399: Is evidence of this at Breadalbane. The rock fill dam at Breaclaich was built to reduce the amount of cement used, and this technique had previously been used at Quoich . Fly ash was used to replace some of the cement used in the construction of the dams at Lednock, Lubreoch and Giorra. This causes the concrete to harden more slowly, but is less permeable once it has cured. Although several of

1273-470: Is highest in the winter when solar energy is at a minimum. Pico hydro is hydroelectric power generation of under 5 kW . It is useful in small, remote communities that require only a small amount of electricity. For example, the 1.1 kW Intermediate Technology Development Group Pico Hydro Project in Kenya supplies 57 homes with very small electric loads (e.g., a couple of lights and a phone charger, or

1340-445: Is initially produced during construction of the project, and some methane is given off annually by reservoirs, hydro has one of the lowest lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for electricity generation. The low greenhouse gas impact of hydroelectricity is found especially in temperate climates . Greater greenhouse gas emission impacts are found in the tropical regions because the reservoirs of power stations in tropical regions produce

1407-462: Is not an energy source, and appears as a negative number in listings. Run-of-the-river hydroelectric stations are those with small or no reservoir capacity, so that only the water coming from upstream is available for generation at that moment, and any oversupply must pass unused. A constant supply of water from a lake or existing reservoir upstream is a significant advantage in choosing sites for run-of-the-river. A tidal power station makes use of

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1474-452: Is not generally used to produce base power except for vacating the flood pool or meeting downstream needs. Instead, it can serve as backup for non-hydro generators. The major advantage of conventional hydroelectric dams with reservoirs is their ability to store water at low cost for dispatch later as high value clean electricity. In 2021, the IEA estimated that the "reservoirs of all existing conventional hydropower plants combined can store

1541-410: Is often higher (that is, closer to 1) with larger and more modern turbines. Annual electric energy production depends on the available water supply. In some installations, the water flow rate can vary by a factor of 10:1 over the course of a year. Hydropower is a flexible source of electricity since stations can be ramped up and down very quickly to adapt to changing energy demands. Hydro turbines have

1608-522: Is the largest Pelton turbine in Britain. The dam is 1,129 feet (344 m) long and 138 feet (42 m) tall at its highest point. It is of the massive butress type, for which the dam at Loch Sloy was the prototype. Water descends a vertical distance of 1,362 feet (415 m) from the dam to the power station, the highest drop of any hydro-electric scheme in Scotland for more than fifty years, until it

1675-679: The Bonneville Dam in 1937 and being recognized by the Flood Control Act of 1936 as the premier federal flood control agency. Hydroelectric power stations continued to become larger throughout the 20th century. Hydropower was referred to as "white coal". Hoover Dam 's initial 1,345 MW power station was the world's largest hydroelectric power station in 1936; it was eclipsed by the 6,809 MW Grand Coulee Dam in 1942. The Itaipu Dam opened in 1984 in South America as

1742-806: The International Exhibition of Hydropower and Tourism , with over one million visitors 1925. By 1920, when 40% of the power produced in the United States was hydroelectric, the Federal Power Act was enacted into law. The Act created the Federal Power Commission to regulate hydroelectric power stations on federal land and water. As the power stations became larger, their associated dams developed additional purposes, including flood control , irrigation and navigation . Federal funding became necessary for large-scale development, and federally owned corporations, such as

1809-652: The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board . Johnston's vision was for a public body that could build hydro-electric stations throughout the Highlands. Profits made by selling bulk electricity to the Scottish lowlands would be used to fund "the economic development and social improvement of the North of Scotland." Private consumers would be offered a supply of cheap electricity, and their connection to that supply would not reflect

1876-633: The Tennessee Valley Authority (1933) and the Bonneville Power Administration (1937) were created. Additionally, the Bureau of Reclamation which had begun a series of western US irrigation projects in the early 20th century, was now constructing large hydroelectric projects such as the 1928 Hoover Dam . The United States Army Corps of Engineers was also involved in hydroelectric development, completing

1943-583: The Vulcan Street Plant , began operating September 30, 1882, in Appleton, Wisconsin , with an output of about 12.5 kilowatts. By 1886 there were 45 hydroelectric power stations in the United States and Canada; and by 1889 there were 200 in the United States alone. At the beginning of the 20th century, many small hydroelectric power stations were being constructed by commercial companies in mountains near metropolitan areas. Grenoble , France held

2010-506: The potential energy of dammed water driving a water turbine and generator . The power extracted from the water depends on the volume and on the difference in height between the source and the water's outflow. This height difference is called the head . A large pipe (the " penstock ") delivers water from the reservoir to the turbine. This method produces electricity to supply high peak demands by moving water between reservoirs at different elevations. At times of low electrical demand,

2077-463: The IEA released a main-case forecast of 141 GW generated by hydropower over 2022–2027, which is slightly lower than deployment achieved from 2017–2022. Because environmental permitting and construction times are long, they estimate hydropower potential will remain limited, with only an additional 40 GW deemed possible in the accelerated case. In 2021 the IEA said that major modernisation refurbishments are required. Most hydroelectric power comes from

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2144-512: The Killin section and those to the south-east of Finlarig comprising the St Fillans section. The Killin section consists of three power stations, Cashlie, Lubreoch and Lochay, with two major dams and a third smaller one. Furthest west, Lubreoch dam was constructed at the eastern end of Loch Lyon by James Miller and Partners. It was 1,740 feet (530 m) long and 129 feet (39 m) high from

2211-475: The Lochay tunnellers hit a water-bearing fault which resulted in 50,000 imperial gallons (230 m) per hour flowing into the workings, and flooding 5,000 feet (1,500 m) of the tunnel. The potential disaster was dealt with relatively easily, by pumping out the tunnel and using cast-iron segments to line a diversion. All of the tunnelling on the Killin section was completed nine months ahead of schedule. Most of

2278-535: The River Lyon. A tunnel runs from the dam to Cashlie power station, which discharges into Stronuich Reservoir. It has a gross head of 466 feet (142 m), can generate 11 MW, and was commissioned in 1959. Stronuich Reservoir is formed by the Stronuich dam, a long low structure that dams the River Lyon. It stores water from the tailraces of Lubreoch and Cashlie power stations. Compensation water to maintain

2345-464: The ability to transport particles heavier than itself downstream. This has a negative effect on dams and subsequently their power stations, particularly those on rivers or within catchment areas with high siltation. Siltation can fill a reservoir and reduce its capacity to control floods along with causing additional horizontal pressure on the upstream portion of the dam. Eventually, some reservoirs can become full of sediment and useless or over-top during

2412-434: The actual cost of its provision in remote and sparsely-populated areas. The chairman of the new Board was to be Lord Airlie , who had initially been critical of the 1943 Act because its scope was too limited. The deputy chairman and chief executive was Edward MacColl , an engineer with wide experience of hydro-electric projects and electrical distribution networks. It soon became clear that MacColl intended to push ahead with

2479-534: The aspirations of the Act at breakneck speeds. He produced a list of 102 potential sites in just three months, and in June 1944, the first constructional scheme was published, for the large Loch Sloy scheme and two much smaller projects at Nostie Bridge and Morar . The Breadalbane scheme and Breadalbane Amendments scheme were published as constructional schemes 25 and 25A. Construction began in autumn 1951. The first stage

2546-595: The balance between stream flow and power production. Micro hydro means hydroelectric power installations that typically produce up to 100 kW of power. These installations can provide power to an isolated home or small community, or are sometimes connected to electric power networks. There are many of these installations around the world, particularly in developing nations as they can provide an economical source of energy without purchase of fuel. Micro hydro systems complement photovoltaic solar energy systems because in many areas water flow, and thus available hydro power,

2613-404: The daily rise and fall of ocean water due to tides; such sources are highly predictable, and if conditions permit construction of reservoirs, can also be dispatchable to generate power during high demand periods. Less common types of hydro schemes use water's kinetic energy or undammed sources such as undershot water wheels . Tidal power is viable in a relatively small number of locations around

2680-473: The dam to maintain the flow in the River Lednock. There is an intake gatehouse around half way along the loch, which controls the flow of water to St Fillans power station. This was the first of the additional power stations to be commissioned when it was completed in 1957. It has a gross head of 830 feet (250 m) and can generate 21 MW. The power station is constructed underground, whereas all of

2747-466: The dams are similar, they are different in detail, as new methods were used to reduce the amount of concrete and shuttering that was required. The massive butress dam proved to be considerably cheaper to build than a solid gravity dam, by about 30 per cent. There were advances in tunnelling techniques too. The main tunnels connected the reservoirs to the power stations, but there were also lots of tunnels used to divert water from other catchments. In total,

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2814-505: The dams, sometimes destroying biologically rich and productive lowland and riverine valley forests, marshland and grasslands. Damming interrupts the flow of rivers and can harm local ecosystems, and building large dams and reservoirs often involves displacing people and wildlife. The loss of land is often exacerbated by habitat fragmentation of surrounding areas caused by the reservoir. Hydroelectric projects can be disruptive to surrounding aquatic ecosystems both upstream and downstream of

2881-705: The effect of forest decay. Another disadvantage of hydroelectric dams is the need to relocate the people living where the reservoirs are planned. In 2000, the World Commission on Dams estimated that dams had physically displaced 40–80 million people worldwide. Because large conventional dammed-hydro facilities hold back large volumes of water, a failure due to poor construction, natural disasters or sabotage can be catastrophic to downriver settlements and infrastructure. During Typhoon Nina in 1975 Banqiao Dam in Southern China failed when more than

2948-399: The excess generation capacity is used to pump water into the higher reservoir, thus providing demand side response . When the demand becomes greater, water is released back into the lower reservoir through a turbine. In 2021 pumped-storage schemes provided almost 85% of the world's 190 GW of grid energy storage and improve the daily capacity factor of the generation system. Pumped storage

3015-580: The flow in the River Lyon passes through a generator set below the dam. An intake gatehouse tower is located at the southern end of the dam, and controls the flow of water to Lochay power station. A long tunnel from the reservoir supplies water to Lochay power station, which discharges into the River Lochay a short distance before it joins the River Dochart and enters Loch Tay. It has a gross head of 591 feet (180 m), can generate 47 MW, and

3082-450: The foundations to the crest. It was of the massive butress type and was completed in 1958. The catchment area was increased by building a network of tunnels and aqueducts to the south of the dam, picking up the headwaters of a number of tributaries of both the River Lochay and the River Dochart. Lubreoch power station is located below the dam, and was commissioned in 1958. It has a gross head of 98 feet (30 m) and can generate 4 MW. To

3149-501: The largest amount for the region since 1990. Meanwhile, globally, hydropower generation increased by 70 TWh (up 2%) in 2022 and remains the largest renewable energy source, surpassing all other technologies combined. Hydropower has been used since ancient times to grind flour and perform other tasks. In the late 18th century hydraulic power provided the energy source needed for the start of the Industrial Revolution . In

3216-750: The largest, producing 14 GW , but was surpassed in 2008 by the Three Gorges Dam in China at 22.5 GW . Hydroelectricity would eventually supply some countries, including Norway , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Paraguay and Brazil , with over 85% of their electricity. In 2021 the International Energy Agency (IEA) said that more efforts are needed to help limit climate change . Some countries have highly developed their hydropower potential and have very little room for growth: Switzerland produces 88% of its potential and Mexico 80%. In 2022,

3283-616: The late 19th century, the electrical generator was developed and could now be coupled with hydraulics. The growing demand arising from the Industrial Revolution would drive development as well. In 1878, the world's first hydroelectric power scheme was developed at Cragside in Northumberland , England, by William Armstrong . It was used to power a single arc lamp in his art gallery. The old Schoelkopf Power Station No. 1 , US, near Niagara Falls , began to produce electricity in 1881. The first Edison hydroelectric power station,

3350-488: The mid-1700s, French engineer Bernard Forest de Bélidor published Architecture Hydraulique , which described vertical- and horizontal-axis hydraulic machines, and in 1771 Richard Arkwright 's combination of water power , the water frame , and continuous production played a significant part in the development of the factory system, with modern employment practices. In the 1840s, hydraulic power networks were developed to generate and transmit hydro power to end users. By

3417-651: The natural ecology of the river involved, affecting habitats and ecosystems, and siltation and erosion patterns. While dams can ameliorate the risks of flooding, dam failure can be catastrophic. In 2021, global installed hydropower electrical capacity reached almost 1,400 GW, the highest among all renewable energy technologies. Hydroelectricity plays a leading role in countries like Brazil, Norway and China. but there are geographical limits and environmental issues. Tidal power can be used in coastal regions. China added 24 GW in 2022, accounting for nearly three-quarters of global hydropower capacity additions. Europe added 2 GW,

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3484-400: The north of the power station is Loch an Daimh, which is dammed at its eastern end by Giorra dam. The structure was built by Edmund Nuttall and is 1,518 feet (463 m) long, with a maximum height of 114 feet (35 m). It is also of the massive butress type, and was completed in 1959. Its catchment has been increased by tunnels and aqueducts to the south and east, picking up tributaries of

3551-613: The others have buildings on the surface. It discharges into Loch Earn, which in turn supplies the River Earn. A small weir just below the outlet from the loch diverts some of the flow into a tunnel to provide power for Dalchonzie power station. It contains a single 4 MW turbine, and discharges back into the Earn. Its gross head is 95 feet (29 m) and it was commissioned in 1958. The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board were always looking for ways to improve their processes, and there

3618-633: The plant site. Generation of hydroelectric power changes the downstream river environment. Water exiting a turbine usually contains very little suspended sediment, which can lead to scouring of river beds and loss of riverbanks. The turbines also will kill large portions of the fauna passing through, for instance 70% of the eel passing a turbine will perish immediately. Since turbine gates are often opened intermittently, rapid or even daily fluctuations in river flow are observed. Drought and seasonal changes in rainfall can severely limit hydropower. Water may also be lost by evaporation. When water flows it has

3685-465: The power station. The dam has two control towers, on either side of the central spillway. One controls the release of compensation water to the Allt a Moirneas, while the other controls the flow of water into the tunnel to Finlarig power station, which was commissioned in 1955. The scheme was expanded by the addition of six further power stations, with those to the west and north west of Finlarig comprising

3752-450: The rainfall regime, could reduce total energy production by 7% annually by the end of the century. Lower positive impacts are found in the tropical regions. In lowland rainforest areas, where inundation of a part of the forest is necessary, it has been noted that the reservoirs of power plants produce substantial amounts of methane . This is due to plant material in flooded areas decaying in an anaerobic environment and forming methane,

3819-527: The scheme involved some 60 miles (97 km) of tunnels, and the Board worked hard to train tunnellers and improve drilling techniques. The tunnel from Stronuich to Lochay is 13 feet 5 inches (4.09 m) in diameter, and some 4.73 miles (7.61 km) long. While a world record was claimed in October 1955 when a collecting tunnel in the St Fillans section advanced by 557 feet (170 m) in seven days,

3886-538: The scheme was completed by late 1959, with only the Lednock station held up by issues with the Breaclaich section, resulting in it not being commissioned until March 1961. [REDACTED] Media related to Breadalbane hydro-electric scheme at Wikimedia Commons Hydroelectric Hydroelectricity , or hydroelectric power , is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies 15% of

3953-422: The south-west of the reservoir, while another tunnel conveys water to Lednock power station. This contains a single 4 MW turbine, which is protected by a surge tower to the north-west of the station. The water discharges into Loch Lednock. The power station has a gross head of 299 feet (91 m) and was commissioned in 1961. Loch Lednock is contained by a diamond-headed butress dam at its eastern end. The dam

4020-524: The world are hydroelectric power stations, with some hydroelectric facilities capable of generating more than double the installed capacities of the current largest nuclear power stations . Although no official definition exists for the capacity range of large hydroelectric power stations, facilities from over a few hundred megawatts are generally considered large hydroelectric facilities. Currently, only seven facilities over 10 GW ( 10,000 MW ) are in operation worldwide, see table below. Small hydro

4087-533: The world's electricity , almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and also more than nuclear power . Hydropower can provide large amounts of low-carbon electricity on demand, making it a key element for creating secure and clean electricity supply systems. A hydroelectric power station that has a dam and reservoir is a flexible source, since the amount of electricity produced can be increased or decreased in seconds or minutes in response to varying electricity demand. Once

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4154-539: The world. The classification of hydropower plants starts with two top-level categories: The classification of a plant as an SHP or LHP is primarily based on its nameplate capacity , the threshold varies by the country, but in any case a plant with the capacity of 50 MW or more is considered an LHP. As an example, for China, SHP power is below 25 MW, for India - below 15 MW, most of Europe - below 10 MW. The SHP and LHP categories are further subdivided into many subcategories that are not mutually exclusive. For example,

4221-586: Was allowed to provide irrigation and power to citizens (in addition to aluminium power) after the war. In Suriname , the Brokopondo Reservoir was constructed to provide electricity for the Alcoa aluminium industry. New Zealand 's Manapouri Power Station was constructed to supply electricity to the aluminium smelter at Tiwai Point . Since hydroelectric dams do not use fuel, power generation does not produce carbon dioxide . While carbon dioxide

4288-570: Was commissioned in 1958. The St Fillans section consists of another three power stations, Lednock, St Fillans and Dalchonzie, with two major dams, Breaclaich and Lednock. Lochan Breaclaich dam prevents water flowing into the Loch Tay catchment. It is a rockfill dam, with a concrete panels on the upstream side and coursed rubble on the downstream side. A gatehouse controls the inlet to a tunnel and pipeline which feeds Lednock power station. A tunnel collects headwaters from streams flowing into Loch Tay to

4355-596: Was constructed by Taylor Woodrow , is 950 feet (290 m) long and 133 feet (41 m) high. It was completed in 1957. The catchment of Loch Lednock is supplemented by a tunnel collecting the headwaters of the River Almond . There is only one other diamond-headed butress dam in Scotland, at Errochty . Because it is close to the Highland Boundary Fault , it was designed to cope with earthquakes. A dispersal valve discharges compensation water through

4422-539: Was exceeded by the Glendoe Hydro Scheme in 2009. To increase the amount of water available, the headwaters of streams that fed into Loch Tay, the River Lyon and the River Lochay were captured by a series of tunnels and aqueducts, increasing its catchment area to 17.4 square miles (45 km). Additionally, headwaters from two tributaries of the River Lochay are fed directly into the tunnel supplying

4489-448: Was the building of Lawers Dam, at the south-eastern end of Lochan na Lairige. This was a fairly small loch, but its level was raised by 90 feet (27 m), enabling it to store 460 million cubic feet (13,000 Ml) of water. From the dam, a tunnel and pipeline feeds the water to Finlarig power station, located on the shore of Loch Tay at its south-western end. Finlarig contains a single 30 MW Pelton turbine generating set, which

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