Inver Hydro-Electric Scheme

Inver
Hydro-Electric Scheme
An inspection hatch for the pipeline and the Abhainn a' Chnuic Bhric
Inver Hydro-Electric Scheme is located in Scotland
Inver Hydro-Electric Scheme
Location of Inver
Hydro-Electric Scheme in Scotland
CountryScotland
LocationJura
Coordinates55°52′18″N 6°05′01″W / 55.8717°N 6.0837°W / 55.8717; -6.0837
PurposePower
StatusOperational
Opening date2012
Owner(s)Inver Hydro LLC

Inver Hydro-Electric Scheme is a remote hydro-electric plant on the Scottish island of Jura, part of the Inner Hebrides. Construction began in 2011, and it was operational by June 2012. It is the third scheme built on the Inver Estate, but the first to be connected to the National Grid. It can produce 2 MW of electric power.

During the winter of 2019/2020, it ran at capacity for over three months, when a fault developed on the undersea cable that connects Jura to the mainland, and supplies the islands of Islay and Colonsay. The scheme was used as part of a constraint management zone, using renewable energy rather than diesel generators to maintain supplies to the three islands. The emergency lasted from 20 November 2019 until late Match 2020, when calmer weather allowed a new cable to be laid across the Sound of Jura. During this period, the station produced some 5 GWh of energy.