HYDRO SCHEME, CAIRNDOW, ARGYLL

PROJECT: ARDNO HYDRO, CAIRNDOW, ARGYLL

CLIENT: ARDNO ESTATE

PROJECT MANAGER: GREGOR CAMERON ASSOCIATES

ENGINEER: CAMPBELL OF DOUNE

PROJECT OVERVIEW

In mid 2014, TSL was contracted to construct a 100kw run of river hydro scheme located at Ardno Estate, Cairndow, Argyll.

The project consisted of both permanent and temporary access tracks, an in situ concrete intake, 2000 metres of 350mm HPPE penstock, two pipebridges and a concrete blockwork powerhouse.

ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Silt mitigation measures were required to ensure that there was no contamination of nearby watercourses and liaison with the Ecological Clerk of Works was undertaken prior to any vulnerable areas being excavated.

The construction period for the intake and powerhouse outfall was short, due to restrictions for spawning fish.

As the powerhouse is located in an ornamental garden on the estate, it was specified to be roofed in slate and clad in natural stone to reduce the landscape impact.

OUR APPROACH

The permanent access tracks were constructed in a sympathetic manner, with all turves being carefully stripped and placed along any exposed track edges; turf was also stripped from the penstock route and set aside for re-use. The intake and outfall works were completed within an extremely tight timescale to meet SEPA requirements. HPPE pipes were welded into strings which were pulled into position, jointed and then backfilled before the turves were re-placed to ensure natural regeneration.

FINAL STAGES

Civils works were completed in January 2015 and the project was handed over to turbine supplier Gilbert, Gilkes and Gordon Ltd., who will install and commission the turbine.