Energy supplier warns long-term closure of hydro plant possible - 29/09/2009
A new hydro plant in Scotland that could enable more people to switch energy sources for a cleaner supply may have to be closed by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) for a year or more.
The 100-megawatt Glendoe hydro station only had its official opening in July, but an August rock fall in one of the plant's tunnels has had a major impact on its operations and it will remain closed for several months at least, reports the Scotsman.
An interim report is due in November that will offer more details, but despite the problems at Glendoe SSE says it expects its first-half profits for 2009 to be higher than the same period last year.
In addition to the hydro problems, faulty welding has affected the company's construction of the Greater Gabbard wind farm in the Thames estuary.
The project is set to be the biggest of its sort in the world and could be the first of many new offshore wind farm projects being built around the UK's coastline to help Britons compare energy supplies from a range of sources.
Onshore wind turbines tend to attract opposition due to their visual impact on the local topography.
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