scottish hydro dams

[tomcatin]

here's a PDF that's available to download.

http://sse.com/media/87078/powerfromtheglens.pdf

I would also recommend Jim Miller's  absolutely excellent book "The Dam Builders; Power from the Glens" published by Birlinn [ https://www.birlinn.co.uk/The-Dam-Builders-9781841582252.html ]

The new SSE Pitlochry Dam visitors centre is also well worth a visit, apart from being an absolutely stunning building, the exhibition/films shown are great!

[Fishtales]

I would also recommend Jim Miller's  absolutely excellent book "The Dam Builders; Power from the Glens" published by Birlinn [ https://www.birlinn.co.uk/The-Dam-Builders-9781841582252.html ]

The new SSE Pitlochry Dam visitors centre is also well worth a visit, apart from being an absolutely stunning building, the exhibition/films shown are great!

There is a Kindle edition which I have on my tablet.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dam-Builders-Power-Glens-ebook/dp/B009KL4SXU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506148012&sr=1-1&keywords=the+dam+builders

[Wildfisher]

It's sobering reading that document. The  minuscule generation capacity compared to the massive  environmental destruction these dams caused was no doubt acceptable  at the time, but one wonders if it would be as welcome now.  The Monar dam in particular was an act of extreme ecological vandalism and destroyed Scotland's best scenic location, pre-dam it was special in a way few other places in Scotland are.

[Bobfly]

Roughly 10-12% of Scottish generation from hydro schemes. Not too much for all the dams and the work that was done. A large number of run of river and mini-hydro going in over the last couple of years to get in before the subsidised payment rate is cut off. All very "green" but, like the wind turbines, it is the energy company and the landowner who make the most and we pay the extra and "enjoy" the benefit of the policy makers' initiatives  :roll:

[superscot]

The Monar dam in particular was an act of extreme ecological vandalism and destroyed Scotland's best scenic location, pre-dam it was special in a way few other places in Scotland are.

Fred i think this has been mentioned before on another thread but this book is excellent ..all about life prior to the flooding .....well worth a good read

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[tomcatin]

It's sobering reading that document. The  minuscule generation capacity compared to the massive  environmental destruction these dams caused was no doubt acceptable  at the time, but one wonders if it would be as welcome now.  The Monar dam in particular was an act of extreme ecological vandalism and destroyed Scotland's best scenic location, pre-dam it was special in a way few other places in Scotland are.

I mind going to meet the SSE coal buyer in their old Georgian office in Athol Place, Perth (now a Perth & Kinross Council office) and being ushered into the boardroom. The walls were covered in gilt framed oil paintings of lochs and mountains ...... turns out the old Hydro Board commissioned them as the oil painting equivalent of a photomontage to persuade landowners that there would be no long lasting impact on the landscape (conveniently they were all full!)

When commissioned the Affric-Beauly was seen as progress bringing literally power to the glens; I suspect if proposed in 2017 it would be a mighty battle to get through the planning system. With hindsight some of the planning for these schemes was terrible, particularly the use of mass concrete dams, overland penstocks and the excessive water extraction.

[Wildfisher]

Beware of greed dressed in "green"  clothing and remember that the political puppets who push these schemes  are gone and forgotten in a decade. The legacy of their ecological vandalism stays with us for many lifetimes and perhaps forever.  It seems we learn nothing.

[Wildfisher]

Fred i think this has been mentioned before on another thread but this book is excellent ..all about life prior to the flooding .....well worth a good read

I have that book Colin. It is both excellent and brutal in its depiction of life in the glen pre hydro-vandalism.