§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies have been undertaken into the installation costs and potential capacities of electricity generating turbines in the dams of the Kielder reservoir, Northumberland.
§ Mr. KingThe reliable output of hydroelectric power generation plant at the main Kielder dam would be about 6 MW, and provision has been made in the body of the dam for the basic substructure necessary to accommodate a generating station which might be constructed in future.
A full appraisal was carried out earlier this year indicating that developing such an installation could provide an economic return on the investment. Although no decision has yet been made the project is still under discussion between Government Departments and the water authority and between the latter and the North-Eastern Electricity Board.