Green Highland, a Voith Company, has signed a long-term agreement to provide full operational support and maintenance services at the Kinlochleven hydropower plant, which is one of the oldest in the UK. Under the contract, Green Highland will assume full responsibility for daily operations and long-term maintenance.
The Green Highland team will modernize the site, optimizing the plant’s performance, extending its service life and ensuring full compliance with health, safety, environmental and quality standards. As part of the agreement, members of the Kinlochleven team have joined Green Highland. Their site-specific knowledge will ensure a smooth transition and operational continuity.
“It’s an honor to be trusted with the full operation and maintenance of Kinlochleven,” says Alex Reading, Managing Director at Green Highland. “We are also delighted to welcome members of the previous site team to Green Highland. Their knowledge, decades-long experience and passion for hydropower are a perfect fit for the Green Highland team. These skills and qualities are among the reasons why our clients have the highest level of trust in us. Now, our joint focus is to ensure the site continues to deliver vital renewable energy for another 100 years and more.”
The long-term operations and service agreement brings together Voith Hydro’s international resources and scale with the local, specialist expertise of Green Highland, which will enable a comprehensive and tailored approach to managing the unique requirements of the historic site.
“This landmark agreement is a significant step forward in the expansion of our long-term service portfolio for our customers around the globe,” adds Sunil Pandiri, Chief Service Officer at Voith Hydro and Green Highland Board member. “Kinlochleven will benefit both from our deep knowledge as a full-line supplier and trusted service partner, as well as from the local, operational expertise of Green Highland. With our full-scope support, this hydropower plant will provide reliable renewable energy more efficiently.”
Kinlochleven: long-standing provider of reliable renewable energy in the UK
Commissioned in 1909, Kinlochleven is one of the UK’s oldest hydropower plants. Initially, the plant generated power for a major aluminum smelter. Today, it is a cornerstone of the UK’s renewable energy infrastructure and supplies reliable power to the national grid.
Located in the Scottish Highlands, the hydropower plant features three 10 MW Francis turbines, a dam, pipelines and the Blackwater Reservoir. It stands as a testament to the typical longevity, resilience and reliability of hydropower as a source of renewable energy.
Equitix acquired the Kinlochleven hydropower plant in 2019. The company’s investment strategy focuses on long-term value creation in renewable energy. Equitix is committed to the sustainable modernization of hydropower plants, which is one of the key reasons the company chose Green Highland as a partner for Kinlochleven.
