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Breaking into daylight again after 15 months of tunnelling through the heart of the mountain, the massive TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) arrived at its final destination ahead of schedule. Drilling of the main tunnel commenced in September 2006 and in the almost non-stop drilling the TBM has travelled from the banks of Loch Ness upwards through the mountain, drilling a 5m diameter tunnel through solid rock for over 5 miles, climbing over 600m in height.
Massive congratulations to everyone in SSE and our contractors on this great achievment. Job done!
Glendoe Hydro Scheme Generates Cash For The Community – March 2007
An agreement has been signed this week that will enable funds to be distributed to the local communities near the site of Scottish and Southern Energy’s (SSE) Glendoe Hydro Electric Scheme.
The deal was signed on Tuesday, 6 March, at the Inchnacardoch Hotel, Fort Augustus and will provide financial benefit to the communities of Fort Augustus, Glenmoriston, Stratherrick and Foyers. The benefit fund was created as a result of SSE’s historic Glendoe project, by Fort Augustus, where the largest conventional hydro scheme to be built in Scotland for 50 years is currently under construction. When complete, the scheme will produce 100MW, enough energy to power a city the size of Glasgow. However, despite its capacity, when complete the development will be virtually invisible, with most of the scheme under ground.
SSE’s Director of Major Projects, Jim Smith, explained the concept behind the agreement: “The completed Glendoe Hydro Scheme will help to meet Scotland’s energy needs of the future and will benefit us all, however, it’s important to SSE that the local community is the first to benefit.” He added: “We are very grateful to the local communities surrounding Glendoe for their support of the project and look forward to seeing the money put to good use.”
The Glendoe community fund will deliver the following; to be divided between the Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston Community Company and the Stratherrick and Foyers Community Trust:
- A £60,000 a year fixed sum.
- A variable sum which is calculated in relation to the amount of power the scheme generates each year.
- A separate £300,000 energy efficiency package.
Decisions on how the money is spent will be made by the Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston Community Company and Stratherrick and Foyers Community Trust, who will be supported by the Scottish Community Foundation, a charity which specialises in distributing funding such as this.
Stuart Findlay, Director of the Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston Community Company, said: “I am sure that this agreement will lead to the benefit of the community and I look forward to a long and fruitful relationship between ourselves and Scottish and Southern Energy”.
Saintly Assistance – December 2006
Tunnelling is an activity rich in history and tradition. In countless tunnel complexes across the world, it’s not unusual to find small shrines erected by workers, and dedicated to St Barbara, the patron saint of miners and construction workers. Glendoe is not an exception. So, on 4th December – St Barbara’s feast day – there will be no tunnelling work on site. Instead, there will be traditional celebrations including a ceremony and a festive meal.
Project Update - October 2006
The tunnel boring machine (TBM), ‘Eliza Jane’, started her rock-cutting quest at the end of September 2006, with the first stage being a 6-month journey to complete the 2km tailrace tunnel.
The conveyor belt, which carries rock out of the tunnels, has recently been commissioned and will soon be covered in its corrugated iron housing.
Balfour Beatty have now left the site having completed the first stage of cable works, but should be back before the end of next year for the final stage.
Work at the second camp area up at the dam site is almost complete - over two hundred staff will eventually be working on the dam and aqueduct.
Boring’s Not Dull - September 2006
This month Hochtief transported the giant tunnel boring machine (TBM) to the Great Glen, ready to start work on the many kilometres of tunnel that the Glendoe scheme requires. Already nicknamed ‘Eliza Jane’ by local schoolchildren, this vast apparatus is certainly a big character, at around 200 metres in length.
Hart Of The Matter - July 2006
The BBC’s popular engineering specialist, Adam Hart-Davis, visited Glendoe to look at the largest hydro electric scheme to be built in the UK for 40 years. The subsequent radio programme, one episode of a series called ‘Engineering Solutions’, went out on BBC Radio 4 in late July.
Prime Access - February 2006
In February 2006, pupils from local schools met Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Scotland’s First Minister, Jack McConnell, when they visited the Glendoe construction site. Schools around Glendoe are actively involved with the project – they have taken part in the ‘groundbreaking’ ceremony and competitions.