Clady Hydroelectric Station (Doire na Mainséar)

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Clady Hydroelectric Generating Station

Commissioned: 1959
Capacity: 4.2 MW

ESB Clady Hydroelectric Station (4.2 MW) is situated in the Gweedore area of Co. Donegal, 50 km northwest of Letterkenny.
Construction started in 1954, with the station going into full operation in 1959, when it also synchronised to the Donegal 38 kV network.
Two lakes form the basis of this hydro scheme: Dunlewey Lough and Lough Nacung are situated in a valley 61m above sea level and are drained by the Clady River, which enters the sea at Bunbeg.

• Both lakes were enlarged to create the storage capacity needed to run the station
• The level of Dunlewey Lough has been raised by the construction of the Cung Dam at the promontory between the two lakes
• The Clady River has been partially diverted by Gweedore Weir into a 2.5 km canal which runs across country to the rim of a deep valley which forms the tidal estuary of the Gweedore River.
• A 500m steel penstock carries the water from that canal down to the generating station at sea level
• Overall, the normal range of storage is from 60.96m OD (Ordnance Datum) to 63.70m OD. Gweedore Weir has also raised the level of Lough Nacung with a storage range from 60.96m OD to 61.57m OD.
• The powerhouse is equipped with a horizontal Francis-type turbine, coupled to a generator with a capacity of 4.2 MW.

Source: www.esb.ie/main/about-esb/power-stations-pdfs/ESB_CLADY...