Rheidol is a hydroelectric power station located near Capel Bangor, nine miles from Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales. The scheme consists of a network of reservoirs and watercourses with a total Generator Registered Capacity of 56MW. This is produced from three main generators totalling 54MW and five auxiliary generators.

Compliance

During 2001, a single environmental incident occurred when the fish farm biological oxygen demand (BOD) level was breached. Powergen has worked with the Environment Agency (EA) to determine likely reasons for this and has carried out work on both the discharge structure and has automated the drain valves to reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence.

Rheidol also received a letter from the EA informing it that the calibration certificate was out of date on the fish farm meter. This has now been rectified and inspected by the EA.

One complaint was received when an article was published in the local newspaper expressing concerns regarding flows downstream of Cwm Rheidol Dam.

Environmental Management System

Rheidol received certification to ISO 14001 in April 1999. Rheidol had a successful ISO14001 surveillance audit during 2001.

Water abstraction and liquid effluents

The quantity and quality of water abstracted and discharged from the power station for 2001 complied with consented limits.

Water flow through the Rheidol system in 2001
Fish farm 697,640M³
Hydro scheme 169,796,956M³

Waste

A waste management plan is in force at the site as required by Powergen standards. Much effort is put into general waste minimisation and recycling wherever possible.

All lubricating oils used by the station are recycled by the supplier and metal scrap sold for recycling. Any waste that is produced is taken to landfill by a licensed waste disposal contractor.

In 2001, 16te of general waste and 0.5te of special waste was produced on-site, along with 3te of metal that was recycled.

Environmental initiatives

• All non-essential work around the scheme was stopped during the Foot and Mouth outbreak to support the local agricultural community and landowners.
• Powergen held its annual meeting with the Environment Agency and Aberystwyth Anglers to encourage working together between all three organisations.
• Rheidol received a letter from the Environment Agency informing the station that the filter bed may be bypassed and removed from service.

Targets for 2002

• Automation of Nant-y-Moch bypass and numbers 5 and 6 turbines, which will reduce the down time of the generators, increase generation and reduce the number of journeys necessary around the scheme.
• Implementation of an electronic data gathering system, which will reduce the amount of paper consumed. This system will also allow inspections to be combined and serve to reduce the number of journeys made.

Community initiatives

• The station has regularly received many thousands of visitors, mostly from schools or educational groups.

See data file for comprehensive environmental data