What is Cruachan Power Station?
[[File:Cruachan Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 171791.jpg|thumb|right|250px|{{Center|Cruachan Reservoir}}]] The '''Cruachan Power Station''' (also known as the '''Cruachan Dam''') is a [[Pumped-storage hydroelectricity|pumped-storage]] [[hydroelectricity|hydroelectric]] power station in [[Argyll and Bute]], [[Scotland]]. The [[turbine]] hall is located inside [[Ben Cruachan]]. Water is pumped between [[Cruachan Reservoir]] to [[Loch Awe]], a height difference of {{convert|396|m}}. It is one of only four pumped storage [[power stations]] in the [[UK]]. It is capable of providing a [[black start]] capability to the [[National Grid (Great Britain)|National Grid]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ihbc.org.uk/context_archive/109/fleetwood/fleetwood.html |title=Ben Cruachan’s hidden giant |publisher=The Institute of Historic Building Conservation |access-date=30 October 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924033302/http://www.ihbc.org.uk/context_archive/109/fleetwood/fleetwood.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Construction]] began in 1959, at the same time as the [[Hunterston A nuclear power station]] in Ayrshire. It was completed in 1965. Cruachan uses cheap off-peak [[electricity]] [[generator|generated]] at night to pump water to the higher [[reservoir]].<ref name=BBCN>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-26124572 |title=Cruachan hydro power station output 'could double' |date=11 February 2014 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=30 October 2015}}</ref> It can then be released during the day to provide power as necessary.<ref name=BBCN/> The power station is open to visitors. Around 50,000 tourists visit it each year. == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:1965 establishments in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Dams in Europe]] [[Category:20th-century establishments in Scotland]] [[Category:Argyll and Bute]] {{stub}}