1930s hydroelectric power plant to undergo £15m refurbishment

A 1930s power station which produces hydroelectricity will be refurbished at a cost of £15.4 million.

The Glenlee power station in Dumfries and Galloway was built almost a century ago and is owned by Drax.

It is one of the oldest hydroelectric power stations in the UK and forms part of the Galloway Hydro Scheme, which totals six power stations.

They produce a capacity of 126MW – enough to provide electricity to more than 100,000 homes.

Drax on Thursday revealed plans to invest around £15.4 million in a major refurbishment of the central power plant, with the main construction expected in 2027 and 2028.

Glenlee’s two 12mw-generating units are powered by water stored in Clatteringshaws Reservoir and the turbines and generators will be replaced.

Draw said the upgrade to the two units will improve their operability and reliability, lengthening their lifespan for decades.

With more than 30 million tonnes of water stored annually, Glenlee is one the scheme’s most important assets and work has already begun.

The Galloway Hydro Scheme includes eight dams, a large barrage gate at Glenlochar and tunnels, aqueducts and pipelines to control the water flow.

Drax has appointed UK-based Quarzelec as the main contractor for the upgrade project, which specialises in rotating electrical machines.

In 2022, it announced the refurbishment of Tongland power station, near Kirkcudbright, to preserve the building’s integrity.

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.

“While Galloway’s power stations may have been constructed decades ago, the homegrown renewable electricity they generate has never been more important.

“This multimillion-pound investment by Drax will ensure it is generating renewable power for many years to come.”

Andrew Dawson, head of engineering at Quartzelec’s HQ facility, 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.”