Arrochar community hydro scheme opens
Arrochar Community Hydro was officially opened last month by Sir Malcolm Colquhoun of Luss, chairman of Luss Estates Company, joined by Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, and pupils from Arrochar Primary School.
Project contractors explained how the scheme works and that income will go to Luss and Arden Development Trust and Arrochar and Tarbet Development Trust.
Arrochar Community Hydro scheme was initially proposed by Luss Estates Company to enable residents to generate income to reinvest in their communities.
Sir Malcolm Colquhoun said: ‘In October 2013 we put the idea of a community hydro to Arrochar and Tarbet and Luss and Arden development trusts. I am delighted this initiative has come to fruition and wish the venture well. It offers a unique chance to raise funding to invest in the local community. congratulate everyone involved in delivering this scheme with particular thanks to Duncan MacLachlan for driving the overall project.’
Duncan MacLachlan, chairman of Arrochar Community Hydro Society, said: ‘With great help and support from everyone, we have completed our project. We recognise the generous financial support from ethical funders throughout the UK and the 22 other community renewable energy projects who took up our community share offer in July 2017.
‘Construction started in September 2017 and was completed in March 2018, despite challenging weather and last minute issues with the Scottish and Southern Energy cable passing under the West Highland railway.’