Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric Scheme

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Sloy Dam
Loch Lomond Electric Facility 35635636511.jpg
Sloy Power Station
Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric Scheme is located in Scotland
Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric Scheme
Location of Sloy Dam in Scotland
CountryScotland
LocationArgyll and Bute
Coordinates56°15′41″N 4°45′49″W / 56.2615°N 4.7636°W / 56.2615; -4.7636Coordinates: 56°15′41″N 4°45′49″W / 56.2615°N 4.7636°W / 56.2615; -4.7636
PurposePower
StatusOperational
Construction began1945
Opening date1950
Owner(s)SSE
Dam and spillways
Type of dambuttressed
ImpoundsInveruglas Water
Height56 m
Length357 m
Spillways1
Spillway typefixed
Reservoir
CreatesLoch Sloy
Total capacity36 million cubic metres
Sloy Power Station
Coordinates56°15′04″N 4°42′42″W / 56.2512°N 4.7117°W / 56.2512; -4.7117
Commission date1950
Installed capacity152.5 MW

The Sloy/Awe Hydro-Electric Scheme is a hydro-electric facility situated between Loch Sloy and Inveruglas on the west bank of Loch Lomond in Scotland.

The scheme was conceived by the Edinburgh architects Tarbolton & Ochterlony. Following Matthew Ochterlony's death in 1946, the scheme was progressed alone by Harold Tarbolton.[1]

Construction began in May 1945, under the auspices of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and was completed in 1949. The official opening ceremony took place on 18 October 1950 and was attended by Queen Elizabeth.[2] The project claimed a new British small tunnelling record January 1951, after a distance of 278 ft was bored over a period of seven days.[3]

Historic Scotland has designated the modernist power-station building and the dam as listed buildings of categories A and B respectively.[4][5]

Twenty-one men lost their lives during the construction.[6] The labour force also included some German prisoners-of-war.

The facility is operated by Scottish and Southern Energy, and is normally in standby mode, ready to generate electricity to meet sudden peaks in demand.[7] It can reach full capacity within 5 minutes from a standing start.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ "Harold Ogle Tarbolton". scottisharchitects.org.uk. Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  2. ^ Her Majesty at Loch Sloy. Pathé News. 23 October 1950. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Tunnelling Record at Loch Sloy. 278ft Bored in Seven Days". The Herald. Glasgow. 16 January 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  4. ^ "SLOY AWE HYDRO ELECTRIC SCHEME, SLOY POWER STATION INCLUDING BOUNDARY WALLS, GATES AND GATEPIERS". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  5. ^ "SLOY AWE HYDRO ELECTRIC SCHEME, LOCH SLOY DAM". Historic Scotland. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Arrochar, Tarbet and Ardlui Heritage - The Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric Scheme 1950". arrocharheritage.com. Arrocher,Tarbet & Ardlui Heritage. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Sloy". SSE. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Power from the Glens" (PDF). SSE. Retrieved 20 April 2014.

External links[]


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