Glen Lochay Hydro-electric Power Station

Lochay power station is a large station utilising water from Stronuich Dam (see separate item) which has also previously been used for generation by lubreoch and Cashlie stations (see separate items). The station contains two large turbines with a combined output of 45 MW. The station includes a fish pass below the tailrace and further works were carried out upstream to allow fish to pass the Lochay waterfall. Lochay power station is a good example of a large power station which was formerly the control centre for the whole of the Breadalbane scheme. The station has a degree of architectural interest from the curved single storey office block section adjacent to the turbine hall. The building also retains elements of the former control room to the interior. PL Payne, 1988, 24; E Wood, 2002, 50.

The Breadalbane hydroelectric scheme

Construction took place between 1951 and 1961 in two sections north and south of Loch Tay respectively. Dams were built at the east ends of Loch an Daimh, Loch Lyon, Loch na Lairige and Stronuich Reservoir, supplying Cashlie, Lubreoch, Finlarig and Lochay power stations respectively in the northern section. Water collection is by a considerable group of aqueducts and tunnels in the area of the River Lyon and the River Lochay and their tributaries. Finlarig power station is noted for operation at a head of 1348 feet, the highest of any of the schemes. It produces 30MW from a Pelton turbine-driven alternator, the larges of its type in Britain.

The southern section has dams on Loch Breaclaich and Loch Lednock. These Lochs are interconnected by a tunnel, with a power station at the entry to Loch Lednock. The latter discharges via a tunnel to St Fillans power station at the east end of Loch Earn, which in turn supplies Dalchonzie power station, which outflows into the River Earn. Aqueducts and further channels collect water from the surrounding area. The total output from this hydroelectric scheme is 120MW.

Information from NRHE catalogue item number WP007424, compiled by George Walker in 2005.