Some dam fine work
A special device has been added temporarily to a Perthshire dam.
Perth-based energy giant SSE installed a ‘cofferdam’ to Pitlochry Dam last week to allow maintenance works to be carried out.
A cofferdam is an enclosure built around a body of water, allowing the water in the enclosed area to be pumped out.
This creates a dry working environment, allowing work to be carried out safely.
The cofferdam was installed at the Highland Perthshire power station by a crane.
This allows the intake gate at the dam’s turbine to be removed and taken away to a workshop for refurbishment.
Had the device not been fitted to the dam, the water levels at Loch Faskally, which sits above the dam, would have to have been lowered to allow this work to be carried out.
A spokesperson for SSE Renewables said: “Last week the temporary installation of a cofferdam took place at Pitlochry Power Station using craneage and divers to facilitate maintenance of the power station’s intake gate to the compensation turbine.
“By utilising a temporary cofferdam we were able to remove the intake gate to the compensation turbine and take it to a workshop where inspection and refurbishment could take place, instead of carrying out this work on site.
“The temporary installation of the cofferdam also meant there was no interruption to operations at the site and no need to lower the loch level to complete the work.”
The spokesperson added: “The crane will be used again to remove the cofferdam when works have been completed, prior to Christmas, and we would like to thank everyone for their patience as we carry out this work.”