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Proposed Reay Forest Hydroelectric Scheme, Kylesku, Sutherland

Wild Land News article.

The Proposal

RWE Npower plc and Grosvenor Estate are proposing to develop a hydroelectric generation scheme in the Reay Forest area of Sutherland, near Kylesku and have commissioned ASH design + assessment to undertake studies to inform an Environmental Impact Assessment. This will inform the design of the hydro scheme and assess its environmental effects. The outcome of this process will be reported in an Environmental Statement, which will be submitted with the application for consent to construct and operate the hydro scheme.

Part of our remit is to investigate landscape, visual amenity, land use and recreation in the study area and its vicinity and we are therefore consulting with a range of statutory and non-statutory consultees who may have a specific interest in these issues in order to:

• Seek their views on issues which they consider to be of specific local importance
• Source any existing relevant information

We hope you will be able to inform us with regard to wild land related issues in the area.

The enclosed plan shows the location and main elements of the proposed development. The proposal will consist of two linked schemes, one on the Maldie Burn and one in Gleann Dubh. Between them they will generate up to 35GWh of electricity per year, sufficient for the needs of approximately 8000 homes. The schemes are likely to include the following elements and activities, though exact locations and design will be developed following Assessment:

Our Response

Dear Ms Irwine

Thank you for the opportunity to comment at this stage on the proposed scheme by RWE Npower plc and Grosvenor Estate.

We have some general comments on schemes of this sort, then particular comments on the details of the proposal.

In general we do not support such small scale hydro schemes in wild land, due to the landscape and ecological impacts being relatively significant compared to the very small output generated by the scheme - 8 MW. We believe major sources of renewable energy generation should be sited much closer to the major demand sources and not on wild land, e.g. on brownfield sites in the Central Belt. The penetration of a scheme like this in relatively unspoilt wild land means the qualities of such wild places are lost or degraded and it could hasten other degrading developments in the locality or elsewhere of a similar nature. We and others fought successfully against the Shieldaig hydro scheme predominantly for these key reasons.

In terms of the details of your proposal, the eastern proposal at Gleann Dubh has larger adverse impacts due to the more dramatic scenery of the Loch and Glen, and its use as a key approach to Beinn Leoid, a significant Corbett and a peak on the watershed between East and West Scotland.

The permanent damage arising from the schemes which concern us would include:

• creation of a high and low water marks in the dammed lochs, giving an unatural landscape impact at varying times during the year according to rainfall/capacity/drawdown.
• Dams and intakes across the lochs creating a permanent visual scar on the landscape.
• Modifications to the flow of various rivers and smaller feeder streams
• New and upgraded tracks mainly associated with this scheme.
• The terrain is sensitive and slow to recovery from engineering works.
• The impact of any above ground powerhouses and associated works

As explained above we are more concerned about the Eastern element of the scheme however we would argue the the small output and the impact of the Western part would mean we would not support either element of your proposal.

Should this proposal develop into a formal application in broadly the current terms, we would be looking to object to it, and we would share our views with other similar organisations to seek their support for our position.

Alistair Cant
CO-ORDINATOR
Scottish Wild Land Group
Alistair Cant