ASH coordinated the environmental impact assessment for the proposed Chonais Hydroelectric Scheme

Key Tasks

Screening and Scoping

EIA coordination and project management

Landscape and visual impact assessment

Landscape design

Stakeholder consultation

Visualisations

What we did

ASH was appointed to coordinate the environmental statement and provide environmental advice on the 3.5 Megawatt Chonais hydroelectric scheme, located near the village of Achnasheen in the north of Scotland.

The run-of-river scheme comprised: a main intake on the Allt a' Chonais; a minor intake 300m downstream of this; and a short section of tunnel and a buried pipeline to convey the water from the intakes to a powerhouse.

The final design of the hydroelectric scheme came as a result of rigorous environmental impact assessment and discussions with landowners and key consultees. The design changed significantly throughout this time, including the consideration of a much larger storage scheme involving the creation of a reservoir. The final hydroelectric scheme design was considered the most acceptable in terms of minimising environmental impact.

ASH's input into the development of the Chonais Hydroelectric Scheme included:

  • Consultations with statutory and other bodies

  • Coordination of specialist consultants (ecologists, ornithologists, archaeologists and hydrologists)

  • Provision of in-house specialist advice on landscape and visual aspects, planning, landscape mitigation and environmental enhancements

  • Research and site surveys

  • Environmental / scoping review of the scheme and its alternatives

  • Scheme design and detailed design of various hydroelectric scheme components

  • Environmental Impact Assessment

The planning application for the Chonais Hydroelectric Scheme was submitted in March 2007 and consent was granted by Scottish Ministers in 2008.

A modified version of the consented scheme has been developed by Green Highland Renewables.

 

Find out more

We’re always happy to answer your questions. If you’d like to find out more about the services we can offer for your project, you can email us on info@ashglasgow.com or call 0141 227 3388.