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Solar panels fitted at historic hydro power station

Drax The Glenlee Power Station - a tall modernist building - with the words The Galloway Water Power Scheme above the name of the station. It is underneath a cloudy sky.Drax
The Galloway and Lanark hydro networks have been in place for the best part of a century

The first in a series of solar panel projects has been completed on a historic hydro power station network in southern Scotland.

Renewable energy firm Drax plans to put about 1,500 panels in place across the Galloway and Lanark sites - which are the best part of a century old.

They have now been installed at Glenlee near Dalry in Dumfries and Galloway with more to follow.

They are aimed at meeting the hydro scheme's back-up power needs which it currently pays to get from the local electricity grid.

Getty Images A black and white picture of men working on a massive pipeline as part of the Galloway hydro schemeGetty Images
The Galloway scheme opened in 1935

Drax bought the hydro scheme - which provides enough energy to power more than 400,000 homes - in late December 2018.

The Lanark system is made up of two power stations: one at Bonnington near New Lanark and one at Stonebyres near Lanark.

It is one of the oldest in the UK and was commissioned in 1926.

The Galloway scheme opened nine years later and comprises six power stations at Drumjohn, Kendoon, Carsfad, Earlstoun, Glenlee and Tongland which run from north of Carsphairn to near Kirkcudbright.

Drax A set of solar panels on the roof of an old hydro power plant with trees and hills in the distanceDrax
Solar panels are now in place at Glenlee

Mike Wynd, Drax's head of hydro, said it was an "exciting new chapter" for the schemes.

"By combining modern solar panels with our mature hydro systems, we're moving the company closer to its net zero by 2040 ambitions," he said.

"These power stations have made a remarkable contribution to Scotland's energy needs, generating renewable electricity for almost a century.

"Through this solar power project, we are setting them up for a bright future for many more years to come."

James Cunningham, Geo Green Power's managing director, said it was delighted to have been part of the project which will cost about £850,000.

Drax The front of the Glenlee Power Station with its modernist design and a sign with its name beneath the words "The Galloway Water Power Scheme". Next to it is a large electricity pylon.Drax
The power stations across southern Scotland have operated for close to a century