Scottish Hydro-Electric has announced a refurbishment programme for its Errochty hydro power station in Perthshire, Scotland. The £9M (US$5.4M) project will involve complete mechanical and electrical refurbishment of the station including new generators, turbines, controls and auxiliary equipment. The existing grid will be replaced under a separate project which will coincide with the work at the station.
As well as extending the life of the 42-year-old power plant, the investment will improve its reliability and efficiency. Work is expected to start in May 1999 and is scheduled for completion by December 2000.
A consortium led by the Generation Services Division of ABB Combustion Services of Derby, UK, has been awarded the contract for the refurbishment of Errochty. Other consortium members include ABB Generation of Sweden and Weir Engineering Services of the UK. ABB will carry out the electrical work, including the supply of new generator stators, refurbishment of the generator rotors, and supply of new 11kV and 400kV switchgear, DC systems, protection equipment, unit control system and station control system. Weir Engineering Services will undertake the mechanical work. Design work is currently in progress.
The 75MW Errochty plant is the largest power facility in the Tummel Valley hydro power scheme in Perthshire. Jim Smith, Hydro-Electric’s plant refurbishment manager, said: ‘This project, along with others recently announced at Rannoch power station, will secure the future of hydro power generation in the Tummel Valley well into the 21st century.’