Work to replace ageing components at Foyers station near Inverness has taken place during the summer.
For the past forty years Foyers has offered the flexibility of being able to generate and pump according to the requirements of the National Grid. However, over the years the demands on the plant have been steadily increasing, with the annual number of mode changes reaching 10,365 in 2012/2013.
At Foyers we are currently replacing the two main inlet valves (MIVs). The original Boving water-operated MIVs have been in service since the station was commissioned in 1974, with a limited refurbishment in the early 1990s. The new MIVs will be oil operated and will bring improvements in both safety and performance, with the ability to generate 150 MW within 30 seconds. This forms part of an ongoing capital works project to extend the operational life and secure the availability and reliability of the pumped storage asset well into the future.
Peter Donaldson, Director of Renewable Operations, SSE said: “Foyers is a fantastic station and has served the people of this country well over the years but it was in need of some work to secure its future.
“As a responsible company we knew it was important, not only to country’s electricity supply, but also the local community and our staff that we carry out the replacement works which will enable us to operate the station safely for many more years. I’m delighted with the progress we’ve made.”