The Hydro Scheme

Harlaw Hydro will replace the former micro-hydro installation with an updated micro hydroelectric scheme that utilises the outflow from Harlaw Reservoir.

A 95kW hydro scheme will take water from the dam’s penstocks (reservoir dam outflows) at Harlaw Reservoir returning flow to the dam discharge channel prior to it forming Bavelaw Burn. A new turbine house is located to the north east of the discharge channel at the foot of the Harlaw Reservoir dam immediately south of the disused building.

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The scheme will generate approximately 260,000kWh (units) of green electricity per year –enough for approximately 100 average houses – saving 129 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. The proposed development of the Harlaw Hydro project would therefore contribute to the national targets for renewable energy.

Timetable

The schedule for this project was subject to a number of successful applications for regulatory permission as well as securing funding for the whole of the project. Key dates in the project are shown below:-

  • Planning Permission Obtained October 2012
  • Abstraction License Obtained October 2012
  • Heads of Terms for the site lease agreed with CEC February 2013
  • £313K share capital raised June 2013
  • Additional share capital raised to bringing the total to £403k December 2014
  • Lease with City of Edinburgh Council finalised July 2014
  • Construction Start September 2014
  • Commissioning August 2015
  • Formal Opening September 2015