A hydropower plant in Scotland has been generating electricity for half a century.
Cruachan Power Station, located in Argyll and Bute, celebrated its 50th anniversary yesterday.
It was officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 1965, six years after construction started.
According to operator ScottishPower, the 440MW power plant can produce electricity for the grid in two minutes – or 30 seconds if the turbines are already primed.
At full operation, Cruachan can meet the power needs of more than 200,000 homes, the company adds.
Hugh Finlay, Generation Director at ScottishPower said: “Hundreds of engineers and technicians and support staff have turned up to work every day deep inside a mountain to power our morning cups of tea and ensure we can watch our favourite TV shows.
“ScottishPower has invested significantly in Cruachan, meaning the station will play a pivotal role in supplying electricity in Scotland for decades to come. We are also investigating the potential of doubling the capacity of the station.”
