Major tunnel excavation for the Glendoe hydropower project in Scotland has been completed with the breakthrough of the 5m diameter TBM.
The 100MW scheme is being built near Fort Augustus at Loch Ness, and is the first major hydropower project in the UK for decades and is being developed by the utility Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE).
Work on the design and construct project started in early 2006 and is scheduled to be completed in just over a year. SSE said in a statement that the development requires an investment of more than US$280M.
The contractor executing the construction works, including the tunnels, underground powerhouse and dam, is the Hochtief Glendoe JV – led by Hochtief. The contractor’s designer is Poyry. Jacobs is advising the client.
Project features include 6.2km of TBM drive for the headrace tunnel, a 47m long by 33m high by 19m wide powerhouse cavern excavation opened by drill and blast benching, and a 35m high by 1km long concrete faced rockfill dam (CFRD).
The project will house a single, 100MW capacity Pelton turbine supplied by VA Tech Escher Wyss.