A hydroelectric generation solution, comprising a reversible-pump turbine, generator and regenerative variable speed drive (VSD), has been installed at Lower Glendevon reservoir’s compensation measuring house, in a pilot scheme involving Torishima Service Solutions Europe Ltd (TSSE), Scottish Water and ABB.
The installation produces enough renewable electricity to power some 100 homes in the local area, while fulfilling the reservoir’s primary purpose of providing the statutory minimum flow to the River Devon.
“In the first three months of operation, we have generated over 113,000kWh of electricity, which we have been able to return to the grid and puts us on course to save at least the equivalent of 93 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually," said Tom Coutts, senior project manager for TSSE.
When the reservoir at Glendevon is at full capacity, water cascades over into the River Devon, via a spillway. A 15in outlet pipe is sized to deliver the desired...