Micro hydro-electric power scheme planned
A planning application has been made by the Rokpa Trust for a micro hydro-electric scheme at the Samye Dechen Shing Retreat Centre at Glenscorrodale on the Ross Road.
The application is almost identical the one first applied for in May 2010, which was allowed to lapse after a neighbouring landowner was unable to sign a lease for a small piece of land on which to locate part of the intake.
Two phases
The only alteration to the application is that the proposal will be completed in two phases. The first would see the construction of a powerhouse, pipeline and intake to be completed by September this year, and phase two would be an extension of the pipeline and intake and which would be completed in 2017.
Phase one will be completely on Rokpa Trust land while phase two will be extend across the boundaries onto ground owned by the Forestry Commission and Arran Estates, if land rental agreements are signed.
The proposed micro hydro-electric scheme would be sited on the Allt an Tigh-criche, a small tributary burn to Sliddery Water which will have a capacity of 15kW and an annual estimated output of 70 MWh.
The electricity would mostly be generated during October through to March and in the drier months the output will be less or even shut down altogether if water levels are insufficient.
The scheme would reduce emissions from heating and hot water boilers and will provide the 23 roomed long term retreat for Buddhist monks with reduced running costs.
Retreatants generally spend three to four years at the retreat which aims to develop wisdom and compassion and which has attracted people from all over the world since it opened in 2005.
The small cluster of single story stone buildings are owned by the charity Rokpa Trust which is based at Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre in Eskdalemuir, Dumfriesshire.
The application is under the consideration of planning officials at North Ayrshire Council.
Attempts to contact the Rokpa Trust this week for a comment were unsuccessful.