Wave power station panorama from 2005, Isle of Islay

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Panoramic picture of an industrial concrete building, a wave power station
Wave power station panorama from 2005, Isle of Islay

It’s long gone now, but back in 2005 when I took the pictures for this panorama it was still very new and exciting. This is a panoramic view of the experimental wave power station at Claddach on the Rhinns of Islay. Waves came in from the Atlantic (on the left, obviously), driving air through the tunnel (centre) and out through the vents (on the right). When the wave went out again the same process went in reverse. This drove a wind turbine in the station, generating electricity.

I was told it made a lot of noise and could be heard for quite a distance. Also the grid in the area didn’t have enough capacity, so it couldn’t be used to its full capacity.

Brutalist wall of the (now gone) wave power station, Isle of Islay

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Picture of a bare concrete wall of a wave power station in some cliffs at the coast
Brutalist wall of the (now gone) wave power station, Isle of Islay

It’s long gone now, but once the wave power station near Claddach was an important part of research into how to harness the incredible power of the sea. This is (or better was) the rather brutalist sea facing wall of the station, the inlet where the waves roll in at the bottom.

Experimental wave power station near Claddach in 2001, Isle of Islay

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Picture of some low buildings on a rocky shoreline, housing an experimental wave power station
Experimental wave power station near Claddach in 2001, Isle of Islay

Another view of the experimental wave power station near Claddach on the Rhinns of Islay, this time in 2001. Waves rolling into the chamber on the left were compressing air in the chamber in the centre, which then powered a special “wind” turbine to generate the electricity. I’ve been told that the air rushing through it made a lot of noise and could be heard for quite a distance. It has long since been closed and decommissioned.