Plans for a hydro power scheme at Cairndow have been revealed.
The Allt a’ Gharaidh project is being proposed by Glen Kinglas Hydro Ltd, which says it would produce 45 kilowatts of renewable energy, totalling 140 MWh per year.
It would be sited near the junction of the A83 and A815, above Loch Fyne.
A ‘planning statement’ submitted to Argyll and Bute Council says the development would be small scale: “The turbine house will be down an embankment and 75m from the road and so will sit quite subtly in the landscape.
“It is located within 100m of an 11 kV 3 phase power line and 65m east of an existing, much larger, hydro powerhouse.
“The project will be comprised of a new small concrete intake weir which will divert water from the Allt a’ Gharaidh into a pipeline 575m long, serving a turbine generating and exporting renewable energy to the national grid.
“Pipe laying will be done using the least disruptive technique possible- by fusion jointing the pipeline in a single location and winching it up the hillside.”
A derelict foot bridge and pip crossing would be replaced, and the new pipeline would follow the route of an exiting derelict pipeline.
The statement adds: “Habitat, species and archaeological surveys will be carried out to ensure the burn is suitable for the hydropower scheme.
“It is expected that with the intake and turbine house at the proposed locations, there will be negligible impact on both non migratory and migratory fish (if these utilise the watercourse).”
The plans are available on the council’s website – search for reference number 18/02765/PP .
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