Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric Scheme

The Sloy/Awe Hydro-Electric Scheme is a hydro-electric facility situated between Loch Sloy and Inveruglas on the west bank of Loch Lomond in Scotland.

Sloy Dam
Sloy Power Station
Location of Sloy Dam in Scotland
CountryScotland
LocationArgyll and Bute
Coordinates56.2615°N 4.7636°W / 56.2615; -4.7636
PurposePower
StatusOperational
Construction began1945
Opening date1950
Owner(s)SSE
Dam and spillways
Type of dambuttressed
ImpoundsInveruglas Water
Height56 m
Length357 m
Spillways1
Spillway typefixed
Reservoir
CreatesLoch Sloy
Total capacity36 million cubic metres
Sloy Power Station
Coordinates56°15′04″N 4°42′42″W
Commission date1950
Installed capacity152.5 MW

The scheme was conceived by the Edinburgh architects Tarbolton & Ochterlony. Following Matthew Ochterlony's death in 1946, the scheme was progressed alone by Harold Tarbolton.[1]

Construction began in May 1945, under the auspices of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and was completed in 1949. The official opening ceremony took place on 18 October 1950 and was attended by Queen Elizabeth.[2] The project claimed a new British small tunnelling record January 1951, after a distance of 278ft was bored over a period of seven days.[3]

Historic Scotland has designated the modernist power-station building and the dam as listed buildings of categories A and B respectively.[4][5]

Twenty-one men lost their lives during the construction.[6] The labour force also included some German prisoners-of-war.

The facility is operated by Scottish and Southern Energy, and is normally in standby mode, ready to generate electricity to meet sudden peaks in demand.[7] It can reach full capacity within 5 minutes from a standing start.[8]

References
  1. "Harold Ogle Tarbolton". www.scottisharchitects.org.uk. Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  2. Her Majesty At Loch Sloy. Pathé News. 23 October 1950. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  3. "Tunnelling Record at Loch Sloy. 278ft Bored in Seven Days". The Glasgow Herald. 16 January 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  4. "SLOY AWE HYDRO ELECTRIC SCHEME, SLOY POWER STATION INCLUDING BOUNDARY WALLS, GATES AND GATEPIERS". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  5. "SLOY AWE HYDRO ELECTRIC SCHEME, LOCH SLOY DAM". Historic Scotland. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  6. "Arrochar, Tarbet and Ardlui Heritage - The Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric Scheme 1950". www.arrocharheritage.com. Arrocher,Tarbet & Ardlui Heritage. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  7. "Sloy". SSE. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  8. "Power from the Glens" (PDF). SSE. Retrieved 20 April 2014.


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