MSc Energy Management students enjoyed a visit to Scottish Power’s Cruchan Power Station on December 1. 

Cruchan power station is one of only four pump storage stations in the UK, built into Ben Cruachan on the shores of Loch Awe.   Its turbine hall has been constructed within the hollowed-out rock of the mountain, hence its nickname the “Hollow Mountain”.  It uses electricity from the grid at times of low demand to pump water from Loch Awe to its storage reservoir part way up the mountain. When demand is high, the plant uses water from the reservoirs to supply up to 440MW of electricity.  The MSc Energy Management students were met by the station’s manager, Bob Wales, and given a tour of the facility.  They interacted with the operators in the control room, experienced the sounds and smells of the turbines, and were given a talk about plant operations.  Afterward touring inside the mountain, students went outside to the beautiful views from the upper reservoir.

Student Rita Nkrumah says “I was very surprised at the level of technology been used and displayed at the power plant, most especially how water is being stored in "built storage tanks" to be used for the large capacity generation of electricity; that was wonderful.
The people at the plant gave us a warm welcome and showed us round all places at the plant, giving us histories and illustrations of the equipment used at the plant. I was impressed!"

Bob Wales says “It is always a pleasure to welcome visitors to the station who are enthusiastic and interested in all aspects of  energy utilisation. The questions asked were
informed and challenging and I was left with a feeling that the students had a genuine interest in how Cruachan operated and the role it played in the wider energy market.”

Please find more information about the MSc Energy Management