A power station located deep within a Scottish mountain has won an engineering award.

The 'hidden' hydro station was built inside Ben Cruachan between 1959 and 1965.

Located within the mountain, Argyll's Cruachan power station was the world’s first high head reversible pumped-storage hydro scheme.

The building received an Institution of Mechanical Engineers' Engineering Heritage Award on Friday 30 November.

The Award has been previously given to landmark feats of Scottish engineering such as the Titan Crane at Clydebank, the Waverley paddle steamer and the Falkirk Wheel.


Cruachan power station is housed in a man-made cavern, deep in Ben Cruachan on the banks of Loch Awe.

It was constructed between 1959 and 1965 and its design was conceived by Sir Edward MacColl, an engineer and a pioneer of hydro electricity in Scotland.

Owned and operated by Scottish power, it is one of only four pumped-storage facilities in Britain.

The station generates up to 440,000 kW of electricity and uses water from the upper reservoir on Ben Cruachan to drive the turbines.

This method of utilising energy means it can be released to generate power at times of high demand.

Were it not for the high storage dam on the slopes of the mountain and the administration office block beside Loch Awe, the facility would be completely hidden from view.

(IT)