SSE has returned the first of two new turbine generating units to commercial operation at its 45MW Lochay hydropower station in Perthshire, Scotland, following installation and commissioning under an £80m refurbishment programme.
Unit 1 resumed generation in late September after being taken out of service in April 2025. Commissioning has since been completed and the unit handed back to operational teams.
The work included removing equipment that had been in place since the station was commissioned in 1958 and installing a completely new turbine and generator. The wider refurbishment is intended to improve the station’s efficiency and output and extend its operational life by at least 40 years.
Both generating units will be available for commercial operation over the winter. The station will then be taken out of service in spring 2027 to begin the next phase of work on Unit 2, including installation of the second new turbine generating unit.
“Commissioning the first of Lochay’s two new turbine generating units is a major milestone for everyone involved in the refurbishment project,” said Robert Bryce, Director of Hydro at SSE Renewables. “It’s a real testament to the hard work and expertise of our teams and the various contractors involved in delivering such a complex programme, from dismantling equipment that had been in place since the station was first commissioned to installing and commissioning a completely new turbine and generator.
“Returning Unit 1 to commercial operation is an important step towards securing Lochay’s future for at least another 40 years. With the next phase of the refurbishment due to get under way in Spring next year, we’ll be building on the experience and lessons from the work completed so far.”
The programme is expected to be completed in 2028, coinciding with Lochay’s 70th anniversary. It forms part of SSE’s wider work to modernise its hydropower fleet and increase renewable generation from existing assets.
Alongside the refurbishment, SSE continues to work with and support the local community, including through engagement with local schools. Recent activity has focused on helping young people learn more about opportunities and careers in STEM.
