The utility has said that the dam has been plugged by closing the gate, to allow water to build up and create the reservoir necessary to power the hydro electric scheme in the future.
The new power station is expected to be able to generate enough green electricity to power over six million low energy lightbulbs, when it is operating at full output. The plugging of the dam marks a major milestone in the construction of the scheme and follows the tunnel breakthrough announced earlier in 2008. The project is on schedule and is expected to be supplying electricity to the grid in early 2009.
Ian Marchant, CEO of Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE), said: SSE is already the UK’s leading generator of renewable energy and plans to invest a further GBP3 billion in renewable projects over the next five years. Much of this investment will be in Scotland, demonstrating that Scotland is at the leading edge of renewable development in the UK.
