Renewable Energy

Revitalizing the Past: Glenlee Hydro Power Station to Undergo £15M Transformation

November 7, 2025

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A historic hydro power station in the picturesque Dumfries and Galloway region of Scotland is gearing up for an impressive £15.4 million renovation. The Glenlee plant, which has been a crucial source of renewable energy since its construction in the 1930s, will soon benefit from significant upgrades thanks to a strategic investment by the renewable energy firm Drax.

Storing an impressive 30 million tonnes of water annually, the Glenlee hydroelectric facility operates two 12MW generating units that harness the flow from the nearby Clatteringshaws reservoir. Drax has selected Quarzelec, a UK-based contractor, to lead the refurbishment efforts aimed at enhancing the reliability and longevity of these generating units.

As a vital part of the Galloway Hydro Scheme, the Glenlee station has been contributing to Scotland’s renewable energy landscape for nearly a century. Ian Kinnaird, the assets director with Drax’s FlexGen, emphasized the importance of this refurbishment, stating that it would allow Glenlee to continue its operations well into the future. He remarked, “While Galloway’s power stations may have been constructed decades ago, the homegrown renewable electricity they generate has never been more important.”

This multi-million-pound initiative not only highlights Drax’s commitment to advancing renewable energy technologies but also ensures that the Glenlee hydro power station remains a key player in the energy sector for generations to come.

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