The good news is that the replacement generator has arrived and been installed. Maneuvering one and half tonnes of generator into the power house and then into position on the turbine is a skilled and delicate process, all expertly completed. We expect to generate our first units of electricity very soon.

We are still progressing, but a couple of unexpected obstacles have had to be dealt with.  Alignment of the inlet pipe with the turbine was not good enough and has required some re-modelling and re-alignment, this is in hand.  The major delay however relates to our generator which was damaged in transit; a new generator is being supplied but will not be available until late June.

Looks Good

Nearly but not quite

In the last couple of months there has been progress in several areas, not as much as had been expected but progress nonetheless.  We now have the turbine and draft tube in place and the pipework lined up with it.  Grouting in the turbine and casting the third and final thrust block are on course to happen this week.  As soon as we have a credible completion date you will read it here.

The turbine in position and connected to the inlet pipework.

The inclusion of a valve to enable emergency draining of the dam was a design requirement.  While we hope never to use it we needed to test that it works.  This was done last week and the picture gives you some idea of the power we are in process of harnessing.

Water Power

Since the last entry in the blog ‘visible progress’ has been on holiday. We have our control panel in place, a connection to the grid and a broadband link; we need now a turbine and a generator too. However the turbine and generator, currently stored in Kilsyth, are now scheduled to be moved into the building on 20th April, the delay being largely due to the availability of certain key people. 

Control Cabinet and Grid Connection

The link to the grid is now in place, thank you SPN, and the first significant piece of equipment is also in place.  Harlaw Hydro, Kestral Controls and SJB Construction teamed up to maneuver the control panel into the building today.

The Control cabinet being carefully lowered down to the turbine house.

Steady progress continues, the turbine house now has its doors, roof and rough casting.

The Turbine House now has walls and all being well in a weeks time it will have a roof.

Block Work Completed

SJB solved the concrete delivery problem!  We now have the floor of the turbine house completed and will soon have a turbine house ready for the turbine.

The Floor of the Turbine House – Walls next

No shortage of water at the moment.  The ‘staircase’ on 12th January.

Water from Harlaw and Threipmuir Reservo