‘Awesome’ hydro scheme offers shares
A £1.5MILLION community-run hydro scheme is offering shares in the venture to help bring a further £300,000 to the enterprise.
Around 90 shareholders have so far backed the project in Dalavich, putting around £200,000 in the funding pot, with other financial help coming through grants and loans.
On April 22, MSP Mike Russell officially opened the hydro on the River Avich with help from Mylo and Rudy Morris, the children of the scheme’s technical advisor. Simon Morris.
Powered by Awesome Energy (Dalriada) Ltd, the community benefit business was set up by villagers to do their bit to provide renewable energy for the nation.
The project can expect to benefit by £2m in the next 20 years by selling hydro electricity to the National Grid, according to project manager Carol Thomas. Five people have been trained and are being paid to carry out regular checks on the hydro turbine.
Following a feasibility study in 2012 and planning permission being granted in 2014, the hydro finally went operational on January 31 this year.
It partnered up with renewable energy business Innogy, owners of Braevallich Hydro near Dalmally, which is allowing Dalavich to share its grid connection.
Project manager Mrs Thomas, said: ‘This was a challenging project. It has been a roller coaster ride since we secured planning permission in November 2014.
Awesome Energy (Dalriada) Ltd is now launching a post-construction share offer next month, taking expressions of interest. Anyone interested can register by visiting awesome-energy.com/form.html.