A new turbine has been installed at the Carron Valley Water Treatment Works in Scotland, marking a major step forward in a £3.4 million hydro energy project aimed at cutting emissions and reducing operational costs, Scottish Water has announced.
The turbine will generate electricity using raw water flowing into the treatment plant. It is now being connected to new pipework installed as part of the scheme. Once operational, it is expected to produce around 0.56 GWh of renewable energy each year, supplying about 16% of the facility’s power needs. Project leaders say generating energy on site will reduce reliance on external power supplies and limit exposure to rising and unpredictable energy prices.
The system is also projected to lower carbon emissions by around 126 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually.
The project is being developed by Scottish Water’s commercial subsidiary, Scottish Water Horizons, and delivered by contractor Emtec Energy. The scheme uses existing water flows at the site to provide what the organisation describes as a reliable and low-maintenance source of power.
Patrick Stakim, project manager at Scottish Water Horizons, said: “This is a really exciting milestone for the project and it is great to see the various elements of work that have been done so far start to come together now.
“This is the third hydro scheme that we have delivered at a Scottish Water site, and once it is up and running in the new year, the green energy that is generated here at Carron Valley will help cut both the costs of operating the water treatment works and the amount of carbon produced as part of that essential process which is great news.”
Stephen Gill, operations team lead for Scottish Water’s west area, said: “Seeing the turbine installed marks an important step for the site. We look forward to the benefits it will bring in cutting energy costs, reducing our carbon footprint, and making the Carron Valley treatment site more resilient and sustainable for the future.”
