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Cuileig, Scotland
Positive sustainability aspect
Siting & design
Landscape and visual effects were a major factor in developing the design of this 3 MW scheme, resulting in a strategy to merge the scheme’s components with the landscape wherever possible.
Cuileig is the first hydropower scheme to be built in Scotland in almost 40 years. It is situated on the Cuileig burn in the Scottish Highlands near Ullapool. It was first identified as having potential in the 1960s however it was not until the Scottish Renewables Obligation (SRO) came into effect that there was increased impetus to proceed. The SRO requires that a certain proportion of electricity provided by suppliers comes from renewable energy.
As the scheme is sited within a scenic area, a decision was taken to keep visual impacts to a minimum. This was a major factor in developing the design as well as the final siting of the scheme while still allowing efficient operation.
