Arrochar Community Hydro Society (ACHS) are delighted to be nominated in The Scottish Green Energy Awards 2018 for the Arrochar Community Hydro Scheme. The award nomination is in the Best Community Project Award category.
The Arrochar Community Hydro scheme was initially proposed by Luss Estates Company as a means to enable local Development Trusts to generate income to reinvest in their communities. The river and surrounding land, on which the scheme is built, is leased for a peppercorn rent of £100 per annum by Luss Estates Company to Arrochar Community Hydro.
The Arrochar & Tarbet and Luss & Arden Development Trusts worked alongside Community Energy specialists Energy4All, Local Energy Scotland and Luss Estates Company to develop this project.
Luss Estates is a diversified rural business set on the banks of Loch Lomond
The Arrochar Community Hydro Scheme intends to distribute the profits from the project on an equal basis between the two development Trusts. Both Trusts have Community Action Plans compiled through local consultation and working with their local community councils. The Trust’s aim to improve the quality of life for residents, especially the young and the elderly, within their rural locations. A priority for both Trusts is operating and maintaining community hall facilities that provide a social, cultural, recreational and educational hub for residents. Income from the hydro project would help to stabilise and sustain continued provision of this vital community asset and service.
Duncan MacLachlan, Chair of ACHS says “We are delighted that our scheme has been recognised in this way. Along with Luss Estates and a number of local people from The Arrochar & Tarbet and Luss & Arden Development Trusts, Energy4All, Local Energy Scotland and a Hydro consultant, Gregor Cameron, all worked hard over a number of years to develop this project.
Opened on the 18th May by Sir Malcolm Colquhoun, Chairman of Luss Estates Company and attended by Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy.
Simon Miller, Chief Executive of Luss Estates:
“The scheme was one originally looked at by Luss Estates, but not proceeded with as it was felt to be too small to be viable as a commercial venture. Subsequently, the Estate was approached to lease the land to the community at a peppercorn rent, to enable the project to go ahead as a community-owned scheme, and was delighted to be able to do this. Luss Estates is proud to play a small part in helping Scotland achieve its target of 100% renewable generation by 2020, and specifically the target of 500MW of community and locally-owned renewable energy by 2020.”
The project benefits the local community in many ways. Local residents and those from further afield, including our school children are able to visit the site educating the next generation about the benefits of renewable energy.
We are generating clean, green electricity and we are half way towards the annual 400,000 kWh energy generation target with more winter months to come.
River in full flow ...... at 3mWh a day.
The profits from the project are shared on an equal basis between the two Development Trusts. The Trusts aim to improve the quality of life for residents, especially the young and the elderly within their rural locations. A priority for both Trusts is operating and maintaining community hall facilities that provide a social, cultural, recreational and educational hub for residents.”
The winners of the Scottish Green Energy Awards will be announced on the 6th December 2018.
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