75 Years On: Honouring Sir Edward MacColl’s Vision at Pitlochry and Clunie

Pitlochry and Clunie power stations are marking 75 years since their official opening – a moment forever linked to the sudden death of Sir Edward ‘Electricity’ MacColl, the pioneering engineer whose vision helped bring hydro power to communities across northern Scotland. 

MacColl, Deputy Chairman and Chief Engineer of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, died in June 1951 on the eve of the planned opening ceremony for the Tummel-Garry scheme, casting a shadow over what should have been a landmark celebration.  

75 years on, SSE is marking the enduring legacy of Pitlochry and Clunie, two stations at the heart of one of the most ambitious infrastructure programmes of post-war Britain. Developed under the Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Act 1943, the wider scheme was designed not only to generate power, but to transform Highland communities, supporting jobs, improving infrastructure and creating long-term economic opportunity.  

Today, both stations remain in operation, continuing to generate renewable energy as part of an interconnected hydro system that has stood the test of time. Together, they demonstrate how early engineering ambition continues to support a modern, low-carbon energy system. 

Pitlochry Power Station – one of the most recognisable sites in SSE’s hydro fleet – also welcomes thousands of visitors each year to its iconic fish ladder and visitor centre, while nearby Clunie continues to play a vital role within the wider Tummel-Garry scheme. 

Gillian O’Reilly, Head of Heritage at SSE, said: 

“Sir Edward MacColl’s contribution to Scotland’s hydro-electric story cannot be overstated. His vision helped bring power and opportunity to communities across the Highlands. Seventy-five years on, sites like Pitlochry and Clunie continue to reflect that legacy, both in the energy they generate and the stories they tell.”