Maldie

RWE npower renewables received consent for Maldie Hydro Scheme in January 2011 from the Scottish Government. Construction is due to begin in autumn 2011 and it will take around 18 months to complete.

Maldie Hydro Scheme is located at Maldie Burn, which is 3km east of Kylestromeand and Kylesku in west Sutherland.

The scheme would generate up to 4.5 megawatts (MW) or 4,500 kilowatts (kW) of electricity, which is enough to meet the annual average energy needs of about 3000 homes.

A water licence has been granted from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency under the Controlled Activities Regulations.

The main components of the scheme include:

• An intake weir at the outflow from Loch an Leathiad Bhuain.
• A buried pipe from the intake to the powerhouse.                   
• A semi-buried powerhouse at the downstream end of the Maldie Burn close to Loch Glendhu.                       
• A buried power cable from the powerhouse over the hill to a small switchroom building at Achfary to the north east.