Cruachan

Cruachan is an operational 440 MW pumped storage scheme in Argyll and Bute, generating since 1 January 1966. REPD does not record the planning grant date. Operator of record: Drax (formerly Scottish Power).

440 MW

Capacity

as recorded in REPD

Operational

Status

since 1 January 1966

Pumped Storage Hydroelectricity

Technology

Drax (formerly Scottish Power)

Argyll and Bute

Authority

Scotland

Planning and build timeline

Application submitted	not recorded
Permission granted	not recorded
Operational	1 January 1966

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Other built sites within 15 km

Site	MW	Distance
Glen Noe River Small Hydro · Under Construction	2	6.3 km
Craig Farm Small Hydro · Under Construction	0.4	8.5 km
Glen Kinglass Small Hydro · Operational	1	11.5 km
Eas a Ghaill Small Hydro · Operational	1.5	11.7 km
River Lochy Hydro Small Hydro · Operational	2	11.8 km
Beinn Ghlas Wind Farm Wind Onshore · Operational	7.8	11.8 km
Carraig Gheal Wind Onshore · Operational	46	13.8 km

How big is Cruachan?

Cruachan has a recorded installed capacity of 440 MW. That figure is the capacity registered in REPD, which is the scheme as consented — the metered output of a site can differ.

Who operates Cruachan?

REPD records the operator as Drax (formerly Scottish Power). Ownership of built renewable assets changes hands regularly and REPD is published quarterly, so treat this as the operator of record rather than confirmation of who owns it today.

When was Cruachan approved and built?

REPD does not record a submission date. REPD does not record a grant date. The site became operational on 1 January 1966.

Source: Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD), Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Open Government Licence v3.0, plus planning designation boundaries from planning.data.gov.uk (England only). REPD is published quarterly and covers schemes of roughly 150 kW and above. Capacity is the installed capacity on record, not metered generation. Operator is the operator of record at the last extract, not confirmation of present ownership. Reference 6841.

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