Project Life Cycle

The possibility of recreating a hydro scheme at Harlaw Reservoir was voiced in 2009, a feasibility study in 2010 confirmed that it was a practical and profitable proposition. Then 4 years of planning, meetings and obtaining approvals and we were ready to build in July 2014. Work started in September 2014 and completed in August 2015 with the formal opening by the Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism Fergus Ewing MSP on 1st September 2015.

Press ‘play’ to see photographs of the construction.

The following is a ‘timeline’ of significant events on the road to power generation:-

• September 2009, Community consultation
• June 2010 – Feasibility study – 5 Water of Leith sites
• March 2011 – Feasibility study – Harlaw Reservoir
• September 2012 : Initial planning permission received
• October 2012 : SEPA Extraction licence granted
• March 2013 : Lease heads of terms agreed with CEC
• March 2013 : Public meeting to launch Initial share offer
• July 2013 : Initial share offer closed.
• August 2013 : Design Engineers requested to tender
• October 2013 : Design Engineer appointed
• 11th February 2014: Turbine & control equipment contract awarded
• 10th April 2014 : 5 potential civils contractors requested to tender
• 15th May 2014 : Draft lease received from the council
• 15th May 2014 : 4 contractors submitted tenders for the civils work
• 24th July 2014 : The Council give permission for work to start on site
• 24th July 2014 : Main civils contractor appointed
• 3rd September 2014 : ‘Golden Spade’ event on site – The Rt Hon Donald Wilson the Lord Provost cuts the first sod
• 24th September 2014 : Work started on site
• 13th October 2014 : Access track created
• 20th October 2014 : Concrete for base of 1st thrust block poured
• 24th November 2014 : 2nd thrust block concrete poured
• 16th January 2015 : Concrete for powerhouse floor poured
• 16th February 2015 : Scottish Power Networks replaced the transformer next to the Visitor Centre with a bigger one sufficient to take the power from the generator
• 16th March 2015 : Powerhouse finished and watertight
• 16th March 2015 : Generator control panel installed
• 16th March 2015 : Power cable connected to the transformer at the Ranger Centre
• 23rd March 2015 : Electricity meter installed
• 20th April 2015 : Turbine delivered to site
• 18th May 2015 : Generator shaft found to be damaged. New generator ordered
• 26th May 2015 : Turbine aligned and connected to incoming water supply pipe
• 22nd June 2015 : Turbine concreted in place
• 7th July 2015 : The replacement generator was installed. Electrical installation started
• 21st July 2015 : the G59 test was passed. This is the test that Scottish Power Networks have to witness before they allow us to generate electricity to the national grid
• 23rd July 2015 : Electricity Generation started
• 1st September 2015 : Grand Opening by  Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism Fergus Ewing