Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is investing £330,000 to refurbish and extend three chimneys at Battery Point Power Station in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.
The investment is part of an ongoing maintenance programme to ensure that the power station is able to continue to power the homes and businesses across the islands. SSEN has engaged Pendrich Height Services and local firms John Maciver & Sons and CalMax Construction to carry out the works.
The refurbishment project commenced in April of this year and involves the removal and replacement of internal steel liners within each chimney. The work is being carried out in phases to ensure that the power station remains operational at all times. Two chimneys have been successfully completed with the third scheduled for completion by mid-July.
Donald MacKenzie, Western Isles Generation Manager at SSEN said: "We understand how important a safe and reliable electricity supply is to our local island communities. This latest investment will ensure Battery Point Power Station is able to continue to power the community whilst reducing its impact on the environment."
"We have been working closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) throughout the process and our engineers have completed a full survey of each foundation to ensure extensions to the chimneys will satisfy any structural requirements."
In the past year, SSEN has invested over £3m in upgrading the electricity network across the Western Isles to help improve security of supply. One of the most recent upgrades includes a £730k investment in Pollacher on the Isle of South Uist by replacing an existing transformer on the island that supplies power to the local community.