[cdn-nucl-l] Pumped Storage

["Neil Craik" <ncraik@nbnet.nb.ca>]

Check out the Ffestiniog pump storage generating at
www.electricmountain.co.UK

In 1961 I was working on the construction of the Hunterston "A" Magnox
station, when I was asked to spend three months at Ffestiniog to help get
the first unit commissioned before the end of the year for financial
reasons. Ffestiniog improved the local area because a nice lake was formed
at the lower level in which fish were cultivated and boating developed. The
upper level was 1000 ft above where a small upper storage lake was created,
but the real enhancement was the construction of the road to the upper level
from which there were magnificent views.

The highlight of commissioning was the full load rejection tests when a unit
was tripped, valves opened and the water bypassed directly into the lower
lake, until the upper valves had time to close. This caused a dramatic
churning in the lake for about 250 yards out for what seemed a long  few
minutes.

I was pleased to learn that Ffestiniog is still operational whereas the
Hunterston "A" Magnox was decommissioned after only 25 years service. The
Hunterston "A" buildings are now gone except for the beautiful glass sided
reactor buildings. The glass was chosen instead of concrete, to blend in
with the beautiful Firth of Clyde.

It would certainly have been useful to have a pumped storage scheme in New
Brunswick when record  hourly maximum demands occurred due to the very cold
weather, but there is not such a favorable geographical site as Ffestiniog.

Neil Craik