Glendoe Hydropower Plant Offline Until 2011

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Scottish and Southern Energy plc (OTC:SSEZY) (SSE) (Perth, Scotland) has announced that it may take two years to get the company's damaged Glendoe Hydropower Plant up and running again. Power generation at the plant, which opened in July, was halted in August after a rockfall partially blocked the main tunnel connecting the reservoir to the power station. For additional information, see related news item from August 24, 2009 - Rockfall Shuts Down New Scottish Hydroelectric Plant.

Now, however, SSE has revealed that the rockfall was bigger than originally thought, and the plant may not be back online until 2011-12.

"In August 2009, SSE identified a blockage caused by a fall of rock near the top of the tunnel carrying water from the reservoir to the power station at the 100-megawatt Glendoe hydroelectric scheme," SSE said in its half-yearly financial report. "Investigations have confirmed that the amount of debris is very substantial, but confined to a section near the top. SSE is now examining options in order to identify the best way to achieve a resumption of electricity generation at the site, including possible construction of a tunnel to bypass the blockage, all of which will require a significant programme of work. SSE now believes that the extent of the repairs required means it is very unlikely that any electricity will be generated at Glendoe until the financial year 2011-12."

The Glendoe Hydropower Station is the first large-scale Scottish hydroelectric project in 50 years. The facility took two years to build and cost approximately £160 million ($265 million).

On a brighter note, SSE said that the new Marchwood gas-fired power plant near Southampton will start generating power next month. The 840-MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant is owned 50:50 with ESB International (ESBI), the subsidiary of Ireland's state-owned Electricity Supply Board (ESB) (Dublin).

Marchwood is the first CCGT to be built in the U.K. in five years and is costing SSE and ESB International about £380 million ($639 million) to build. The plant is undergoing reliability testing right now, but will be fully operational in December, when it will supply enough power for up to 1 million homes. The plant claims a net thermal efficiency of more than 58%, making it one of the most efficient gas-fired power stations in the country. The addition of Marchwood takes SSE's power generation capacity to 11.5 gigawatts.

View Plant Profile - 1058520 1057728

IIR's Renewable Energy Database provides extensive coverage on the Wind Energy, Geothermal, Hydroelectric, Landfill Gas-to-Energy and Utility-Scale Solar power plants throughout North America, and now expanding coverage across the world.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy related markets. For more than 26 years, Industrial Info has provided plant and project opportunity databases, market forecasts, high resolution maps, and daily industry news.