IN A NEW move to tackle climate change and air pollution, Ardtornish Estate in Morvern has introduced an electric vehicle charging point – powered from its own hydro turbine.
The charger is able to top up an average vehicle at 22KW per hour, drawing power from the neighbouring Archimedes screw turbine – another first for Lochaber – a low-head, high-volume hydro scheme that produces 100 kilowatts of power from 4.4 metres of water pressure (‘head’, in the technical term), which powers a 10-metre corkscrew over 2.5 metres wide, set at a 26-degree angle to the horizontal.
The scheme and charging point were formally opened in June at Achranich, Ardtornish, which now has more than 3MW of renewable hydro power, and is the largest employer in Morvern.