Loch Doon and Tongland are both existing dams that form part of large hydro schemes in the Scottish Borders.  Hydroplan was employed to investigate the potential for retrofitting small turbines on to the compensation flows from each of the dams.

The schemes were both challenging – particularly in relation to access and allowing for flood management provision.  Moreover, both schemes are listed structures and had significant fisheries interests. Hence water use licences and listed building consent were required.

Hydroplan worked to a tight deadline (due to the restrictions of the feed-in tariff) to deliver all the consents and to also provide outline design for the compensation sets.

The consents were issued in 2015.

The post Loch Doon and Tongland first appeared on Hydroplan - Hydropower Consultancy.

The 2MW scheme on Loch Gaineamhach required a full Environmental Impact Assessment as part of the planning application due to its size and location within the Wester Ross National Scenic Area and the Flowerdate-Shieldaig-Torridon Core Area of Wild Land.

Hydroplan conducted preliminary feasibility work in 2015, with environmental surveys undertaken by sub-contractors during the summer of the same year. In addition, Hydroplan carried out a number of environmental impact studies. Due to environmental constraints, the scheme layout went through several iterations during the planning stage before the configuration with the lowest environmental impact in terms of land area and habitat affected was found. In addition, mitigation measures were considered where possible during the design stage.

On the edge of Loch Braigh Horirsdale, a curved track and cable bridge was designed to replace an existing rickety ATV bridge. The new bridge has carefully been designed to follow the geomorphology and integrate into the landscape.

The scheme was consented in spring 2019.

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