Arrochar and Tarbet Community Development Trust are delighted to announce that, after a few ups and downs, and as a result of a lot of hard work on the part of the Trust Directors, the community hydro scheme is now progressing!
The hydro scheme is a joint venture between Arrochar and Tarbet and Luss and Arden Community Development Trusts. The 123kW hydro plant will be located above Arrochar and will be a 'run of river' scheme, with the electricity generated being sold to the National Grid, with the generated income to be used for community benefit projects.
Latest Progress on Arrochar Community Hydro (end October 2017)
The Arrochar Hydro project has completed an important stage in it's construction and is on programme, at the end of October.
With a tight build schedule due to SEPA in-river work approval and other LL&T NPA planning consents, the contractors also had concerns over working in winter conditions and shortening daylight hours and looked to complete the upper hillside works by the end of this month. Despite many wet days, some with very heavy rain, resulting in high river levels and widespread hillside run-off, the well-equipped and experienced contractor has completed the upper intake and pipeline installation, reinstating groundworks as much as the conditions have allowed.
As November approaches, they have also prepared the Turbine House for construction. The sump and outflow have been cast, and cable conduits and base shuttering are set for concrete work to be carried out next week. Aggregates, concrete, and timber supplies are on site and ready for this to proceed. The base area compound has also been considerably reinstated, along with the link track to the pipeline, to allow it to settle over the next few months. All to the satisfaction of the LL&T NPA planners and Ecological Clerk of Works who visited the site on Wednesday, commending the contractor on works to date and suggesting a request on Rhododendron treatment and some other tree planting at the intake site.
The next construction phase will see the Turbine House constructed and delivery on site of the Turbine and Generator, along with other mechanical and electrical equipment for installation over the next 2 months, with completion planned for the end of the year.
Civil construction work will continue with the Tailrace outflow and commence the excavation of the power cable to run alongside the 3 Lochs Way Track and then a route downhill under the West Highland Railway Line to connect to an SSE Low Voltage power line above Arrochar.
Grant Funding
The Arrochar Community Hydro Society was successful in an application for grant assistance from the Scottish Hydro Electric Community Trust for £10,000 towards the electrical connection and should the project remain on time and within budget, it will allow us to provide some enhancement to the project. This is envisaged to include information boards and possibly display screens at the powerhouse of generation data ,along with providing a viewing platform for walkers on the 3 Lochs Way to appreciate the Community Hydro Project and it's outlook from an elevated location over Loch Long towards the Arrochar Alps on the opposite side of the Loch.
Arrochar Community Hydro Society
In keeping with Hydro Society rules we are required to hold an inaugural AGM to conclude some constitutional business relating to accounts and interim administration arrangements. We invite suggestions on what information and activities we could provide members at this forum, as we would hope all local members could attend, along with any investors from further afield who would be most welcome.
CARES Loan repayment
Local Energy Scotland confirmed repayment of the CARES Loan funding provided for all early professional, legal, design, planning & feasibility study costs associated with the project, that had been jointly lead by Arrochar & Tarbet and Luss & Arden Community Trusts and now transferred to the Arrochar CHS, along with various consents and agreements from SEPA, LL&T NPA, SSE and Ofgem.
Project Progress
Please see images of the project progress below and feel free to contact us (http://arrocharhydro.coop/) for any further information or questions, that we can relay to the project designer Highland Eco Design, Civil contractor Byran Construction or our Owner's engineer overseeing the project on behalf of the Society, Gregor Cameron Consultants.
Any questions, please contact:
Duncan MacLachlan
Arrochar & Tarbet Community Development Trust
Arrochar Community Hydro Society