AUCH HYDRO

Auch Hydro Scheme is a 450kW scheme that was built on the Allt Coralan burn, near Tyndrum.  The scheme was designed by Mott MacDonald and we were contracted to complete all Civil Engineering aspects of the scheme, which included:

• Constructing the In-River Water Intake complete with Header Tank.
• Constructing the Secondary Intake and installing pipeline linking it to the Allt Coralan burn.
• Installing 2280 metres of 710mm diameter HDPE pipework with 109 metres of head.
• Constructing two Bridges to support bridge and provide estate access.
• Construct the Powerhouse, complete with Tailrace and Headwall.
• Construct the reinforced concrete Pigging Chamber.

The scheme has been running extremely successfully for the client and is thought to continue to do so for many years. The water is passed through a Gilkes Turgo Turbine, which generates the power for being sent back onto the National Grid.

Auch was particularly challenging due to both the weather conditions and the passing under a railway bridge.  Although MAM are used to working in the worst of conditions, Auch was particularly challenging and it was not uncommon to have all four seasons in the one day.  The pipeline crossed underneath one of the Scottish Rail Network’s main bridges and careful planning and excavation was required to complete this element of the works.