Hafod y Llan 640kw hydro. Follow the photo diary of the work as we develop this exciting new hydro system on the southern flanks of Snowdon. In terms of scale this single hydro will supply enough electricity to supply all of the electricity needs of every mansion and house we manage in Wales
Another group of hardy soles reaches the inlet work, on the demonstration day at Hafod y Llan.
Concrete pour on intake. June ’13
NT Rangers inspecting the works.
Concrete mixing at the intake. May 13
Pipe welding coming down the mountain. May 13
Fitting the new turbine house out on the small hydro scheme
Pipe route with the welding equipment in the distance the WatkinPath in the foreground.
Farming goes on with the hydro work progressing
How did the pipe cross the road? In the air when it’s suspended by two Land Rovers.
Work on the small hydro at the farm gathers a pace as the pipe work goes up the hill.
Section number 15 arrives at the weir point. The last pipe required for the top section of the route. Transporting it up to the top on the ground could have proven very dangerous as well as damaging to the track.
The first section of pipe flown up to the weir point in Cwm Llan another 14 needed.
Cat and dog
Work on the pipeline route goes on where the pipe will be buried
Jcb makes light work of handling the pipes.
JCB makes light work of unloading the pipes.
The first load of pipe for the hydro on Snowdon
Root protection track work going in to protect older vulnerable trees.
Dave, Arwyn, Meirch and Nell inspecting the footpath diversion. White heli-bags in the distance
The quartz snaps another chisel, one tough mountain.
Temporary footpath diversion near the weir site.
Arwyn the Farm Manager at the intake location.
Rhys guiding in the next load of materials on the Watkin path
Saturday and 50 tonnes of material moved up to the weir by helicopter
Some images of our environmental, ecological and archaeological protection measures during the works:
Straw bales limiting and filtering any run off from the works
Fencing off wet flushes and archaeology
Fencing provides root protection near the powerhouse site
The 13 tonne machine makes progress with out disturbing the mountain wall and the smaller Kubota comes down to meet it.
Caterpillar 13 tonne digger on hydro scheme to harness the power of water.
13 tonne Cat working on Snowdon
13 Tonne machine made light work of the rock corner. Note the dry stone wall still intact. Photo DS. 21/1
Top machine making its way down.
- Cat makes its way up Snowdon to the pipeline route, to start working upwards to take advantage of better weather. Jan 13
The 13 tonne machine makes it way up to the pipe route, past the root protection fencing erected to prevent accidental damage to trees during excavation and construction of the hydro.
When is a green van not green, when it is white (soon to be brown), Electric power Renault van.
Country side rangers are va va vooming around the estate, ideal for pottering around. Ideal for fetching and carrying light loads.
The Saudi Arabia group admiring the new bridge
A group came from Saudi Arabia to the farm on a fact-finding mission about sheep industry. Apart from feeling the cold on an ice morning what took their attention was the river coming from Cwm Llan how crystal clean it is and quantity of water.
Annual rain fall top of Hafod y Llan 4000mm
Annual rain fall Saudi Arabia 10mm
What we get in one year takes 400 years out there aren’t we lucky
Spot the Digger
Looks small in the grand scheme of things.
New bridge leading to the powerhouse site. Dec 12
Digger has now crossed the river and is working on the pipe route above the archaeology. Above is Y Lliwedd mountain. Dec 2012
Mountain so big and we need to scratch at its surface. Afon Cwm Llan – Nov 2012
Pegging out a restricted corridor of working on the pipe route where Wet Flushes are present. Nov 2012
Dave marks the site boundary at the intake in order to protect the ecology and archaeology Nov 2012
landscape image of the hydro route
Autumn on the lower section of Afon Cwm Llan before it gets to the farm
Down from the weir point…and people canoe down here!
The proposed weir point on Afon Cwm Llan
Pingback: Large hydro getting closer – Hafod y Llan on Snowdon | National Trust Going Green
Pingback: large hydro getting closer – Hafod y Llan 650kw hydro | National Trust Going Green
Hi – it would be great if someone could come and talk about this project on the Welsh National Eisteddfod’s Green Field this year. Please see http://www.maesg.org.uk and seek out the “e-Coleg” – our lectures tent. We have many interesting and distinguished speakers lined up so far, and would like Keith Jones or someone else to come and talk about the NT in Wales – yn y Gymraeg os gwelwch yn dda – in Welsh. Diolch. nathan@maesg.org.uk
Pingback: Hafod y Llan Hydro. Blog 1: Planning permission is gained for Snowdon Hydro | National Trust Going Green
Just wanted to say “Good Luck”. A great idea and scheme that will I am sure be almost invisible when you are finished, but still provide a good amount of power.
Thanks. That’s the idea. 2Gwh pa and everything buried.? It’s the first of a few. All the best
I walked up & kayaked down the creek on Sunday and was dismayed to see the heavy machinery dotted all the way up the mountainside, however I took a look at the small weir at the bottom of Llanberis falls and I understand that it doesn’t greatly affect the river levels when there is sufficient rain for the rapid underneath to be kayaked.
Will the Afon Cwm Llan still be navigable after the hyroscheme is up and running?
Thanks for getting in contact. It will be interesting to get your view once we have finished and hidden everything in what is a post industrial landscape and a sterile river (copper)
The river will still be navigable – out of interest see the link below in terms of how much water – http://ntenvironmentalwork.net/2012/09/18/what-price-for-a-waterfall-delivering-multiple-objectives-in-energy-generation-hafod-y-llan-hydro/
All the best
Keith
Dear Mr. Jones!
Randomly I’ve found your totally interesting articles here on this site. Especially your “Hidden Hydros” article I really like.
Turbines like that from Gilkes often have a good substance and are more massive like new ones, so I definitely think that reusing such turbines is a good idea.
For example I am interested in this Gilkes-Turbine (spiral-casing made from cast-iron) – do you think that I could have or buy this turbine?
Or do you know other turbines or parts like runners and spiral-casings that I could have or buy?
For the refurbishment I would know professionals here in Austria.
I am really looking forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
Best regards.
Daniel Mayrhofer
Austria / 8254
Thanks for the contact. Gilkes post 1930 pelton and turgo are worth quite a bit if money and are usually refurbished and used again. The smaller Francis systems are also valuable with a few companies our there ready to refurbish. If I hear of any which are available I will let you know. All the best
Thank you for your answer!
Yes please let me know.
All the best.
Daniel
Very cool project! I am working on one myself in Packwood WA, USA. We had to fly the intake and penstock in with a helicopter as well. The only other access was on US Forest Service land and was closed to all motorized vehicles. I have some photos posted on Facebook under the Name Burton Creek Hydro. Keep up the good work!
Will have a look later. Playing with helicopters is always cool. Let me know how you get along with yours! All the best
Pingback: …but no idea » The Missed Nail