Work has started on the development of a £1.8m hydro-energy initiative in Highland Perthshire.
The scheme, at Roroyere, Glen Lyon Scotland’s longest glen is the first of three small run-of-river hydro schemes in the area.
It is being developed by Aberfeldy firm Green Highland Renewables (GHR) and will have a total output of 807kW.
GHR is working under an option and lease agreement and anticipates that it will take nine months.
The Roroyere scheme is part of the Glen Lyon Partnership hydro project of seven developments, and has required 20km of underground cabling in the glen to enable connection to the national grid.
GHR managing director Alastair Riddell said hydro was “an extremely sound investment”, with his company offering a number of ways to allow landowners to enter the market.
He said, “Scotland is absolutely ripe for more hydro power.
“Our terrain and our climate are ideally suited to it, with many suitable sites in the Highlands for small- and medium-sized schemes.”
He added, “Glen Lyon is not unique this formula can be replicated in many other locations through the Highlands, or where former hydro schemes have fallen into disrepair but are primed for re-development.”
GHR was founded in 2007 to capitalise on the small-scale hydro generation market, with Scottish and Southern Energy becoming an equity partner in 2008.
Mr Riddell said, “We are actively looking for new opportunities with landowners who want to offset their own on-site energy demand and generate revenue from energy sales and to work with them to transform the raw elements that they have on their ground into a marketable commodity.
“To develop hydro on any scale other than simple domestic supply is a major investment.”