Hydro

Hydro electricity is produced using the power of running water to turn the turbines of generating sets in power stations. The water is either impounded behind dams and passed through the turbines when it's needed to generate electricity, for example at times of peak demand, or diverted from rivers and used to generate electricity before being returned to the river downstream.

The birth of hydro-electric power in Scotland can be traced back to the banks of one of our most famous lochs. At the western end of Loch Ness lies a small abbey and in 1891 the monks developed an 18kW scheme which supplied the village and their electric organ. With this small turbine, using water from the adjacent River Tarff, they set in motion the story that would eventually culminate in the nationalised development of hydro power to provide electricity to homes throughout Scotland.

The supply to the village of Fort Augustus from the monks' turbnine was a welcome advancement. However, as with all pioneering work, things did not always go so smoothly. Local legend has it that when the monks played the electric organ all of the lights in the village went dim!

The turbine house, penstocks and water supply are all still in situ - although no longer in use - and lie less than a mile from one of the most recent hydro developments at Glendoe.

Fort Augustus Abbey, home of the first public hydro scheme.