Scotland's energy minister has officially opened a multimillion-pound hydro electric scheme in the Highlands.
Paul Wheelhouse presided over the inauguration ceremony at the RWE Innogy UK Cia Aig hydropower station at Spean Bridge.
The new run-of-river hydro scheme on the Abhainn Chia-aig river, at the eastern end of Loch Arkaig around 20 miles north of Fort William, generates three megawatts of electricity and cost just under £12 million to build.
READ MORE: Paul Wheelhouse: Hydropower projects threatened by cut in UK subsidies
The first turbine started producing power in February 2016, two years after building work began.
Mr Wheelhouse said: "This 3mw hydro scheme will help contribute to the growing importance of hydro generation in Scotland - the largest source of renewable power in Scotland after onshore wind."
He added that the Scottish Government is "committed" to supporting renewables, including hydropower.
Dr Hans Bunting, chief operating officer of renewables at RWE International SE, said: "Scotland is a great place to do business. We value the skilled supply chain that Scotland can offer and when developing our renewables projects, it is important to us that we are able to work with local companies and to maximise the economic benefits to the local economy."
READ MORE: Paul Wheelhouse: Hydropower projects threatened by cut in UK subsidies
Scottish Renewables policy officer Hannah Smith welcomed the scheme.
She said: "This technology already provides more than a quarter of the renewable electricity generated in Scotland, and with the right support from Government, hydro at all scales can continue to thrive, delivering economic benefits and helping us meet our climate targets."
British Hydropower Association chief executive Simon Hamlyn said small-scale hydropower developments employ around 1,700 people in Scotland and produce more than 177mw of electricity.
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