In a case of large-scale renewables helping small, SSE has given its backing to a remote Highland community hoping to own a share of a micro hydro-electric scheme in Ardnamurchan.
Sunart Community Renewableswas awarded £43,000 from SSE’s Highland Sustainable Development Fund, created through SSE’s wind farms in the Highland region. The funds have been used to employ a Project Manager for the community-owned hydro-electric scheme at Allt nan Cailleach in Strontian.
The proposed 100kw scheme will use a redundant water supply dam purchased from Scottish Water to generate approximately 420,000kWh of electricity a year, enough to power around 100 homes. The project has the potential to net an initial income of £15,000 per year for local community projects, rising to £90,000 after the 13 year pay-back period. It is hoped that the hydro-electric scheme will be fully operational by November 2015.
In order to raise the overall £850,000 funding target, the organisation has launched the Sunart Community Share Offer which allows individuals and companies to invest in the project by purchasing shares of £300 up to £100,000. The Sunart Community Hydro is the first project to be supported by Community Shares Scotland, a new organisation funded by Big Lottery Fund Scotland and Carnegie UK Trust to promote and support community shares in Scotland.
Rachel McEwen, Director of Sustainability at SSE, said: “The community energy movement is giving power to local people, generating power and energy so local communities can create a sustainable future for the next generation.
“SSE’s support for the Sunart Hydro scheme is a great example of how community benefit from our major wind farm developments can support small-scale community energy schemes, acting as vital seed capital to move projects forward in what can be a complex area. “It’s fantastic to see community-led schemes like this gain momentum and I wish the project team every success with their innovative share offer.”
Dale Meegan, Project Manager for the Sunart Community Hydro said: “Sunart is hydro heaven. A greater depth of rain fell on Strontian in three weeks recently than throughout all last winter in England, and it was the wettest on record. A community-owned hydro-electric scheme like this will create a healthy revenue stream for the local area, while also contributing to important renewable energy targets.
“The Share Offer has already attracted over £135,000 worth of community investment and we're delighted that more than half of our investors are local. We have until February to raise this money but it will make planning much easier if we can raise it before the deadline. We hope people won't leave it until the last minute to buy shares.”
SSE has invested over £4.5million in community projects in the last year, including over £400,000 in support for community renewables, such as the £75,000 refurbishment of the critical 280kW hydro scheme in the off-grid community of Knoydart and £40,000 towards a proposed 900kW community wind project in Coigaich, Wester Ross.