Drax has announced a £15 million upgrade of the Glenlee hydropower station in southwest Scotland. Built in the 1930s, the plant’s two 12MW generating units are supplied by water from the Clatteringshaws Reservoir, which holds more than 30 million tonnes of water each year. Glenlee is considered one of the Galloway hydropower scheme’s most flexible assets.
The company has appointed UK-based electrical engineering group Quartzelec as the main contractor for the project.
Ian Kinnaird, Drax’s FlexGen Assets Director, said: “Glenlee has been generating renewable electricity for almost a century, and this major refurbishment will help it continue to do so for many years to come.”
He added: “While Galloway’s power stations may have been constructed decades ago, the homegrown renewable electricity they generate has never been more important. This multi-million-pound investment by Drax will ensure it is generating renewable power for many years to come.”
Quartzelec will lead the refurbishment of both generating units, focusing on improving operability, reliability, and long-term performance.
Andrew Dawson, Head of Engineering at Quartzelec’s HQ facility in Rugby, said: “We are very proud to be given the opportunity to continue our long-term relationship with Drax on a project as significant as this. Our technical expertise is deeply rooted in the hydro and wider power generation market, and we are delighted that we can continue to develop the UK’s renewable power schemes.”
The investment is supported by a 15-year capacity market agreement valued at about £20 million.
Drax is also advancing an £80 million upgrade of its Cruachan pumped-storage facility in Scotland.
