In 2018(?) work started to build and commission a 100kW hydroelectric scheme. This involved trenching and laying over 1000 metres of 375mm plastic pipe to carry the water down from an intake dam upstream of the waterfall, installation of the turbine and associated control gear, and a connection to the 11kV grid via a dedicated transformer.
Did you know?
After heavy rain, the waterfall can reach a rate of flow of 2,000 litres per second!
Depending on rainfall, we generate around 400,000kWh of renewable electricity per year. That’s enough for around 150 average homes.
This electricity is sold to the grid under a Feed-in Tariff and the money generated (after initial capital costs have been repaid) is used as an income stream for the charity to maintain and develop the whole site. It has enabled building the café, toilets, outdoor kitchen and covered seating areas over the last few years as well as maintaining the path network and management of the forest.
1 April 2019 G86 Feed-in Tariff ended
1080(?)m pipe 375 mm diameter 125 litres/second flow
Eas Mòr Ecology 