Osspower Ltd submitted applications for consent to construct and operate four hydro electric stations at Glen Falloch Estate near Crianlarich, in July 2009. The projects are: Allt Fionn (2.1MW); Ben Glas (1.6MW); Derrydarroch (2MW); and Upper Falloch (1MW).
The site lies around 5km to the north of Loch Lomond and around 6km southwest of Crianlarich and is entirely within the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.
Following consultation, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, as the Planning Authority, raised no objections to the applications subject to a number of conditions.
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) supported the application subject to the imposition of conditions in order to protect the water environment.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) had no objections subject to conditions relating to European Protected Species, peat slide risk and breeding birds. SNH also advised that an appropriate assessment was required for the Allt Fionn proposal, given its proximity to the Loch Lomond Woods Special Area of Conservation.
No stakeholder or public objections were received for the proposals.
The Scottish Government’s target is to meet 50% of electricity demand from renewables by 2020. In 2008, 22% of electricity demand came from renewables. There is around 7GW of renewables capacity installed, under construction or consented around Scotland, which will take Scotland beyond the interim target of 31% of Scotland’s electricity demand from renewables by 2011.
The Scottish Government’s Energy Consents and Deployment Unit is currently processing 32 applications (23 onshore wind, 8 hydro and one thermal), amounting to 3GW.
