Scotland's largest community-led hydro scheme will be launched today.
It is seven years since planning began on how to harness the power of the Merk Burn, which drops 1200ft down the side of Glen Fyne near Cairndow. And it is hoped that within 18 months the water should be turning a turbine.
The £3.5 million project is projected to have a capacity of almost 1MW, sufficient to meet the energy needs of up to 1000 homes.
But the power will be sold to the grid to generate funds for the community body Here We Are (HWA), which was the driving force behind the hydro scheme. It could mean a revenue stream of £60,000 a year to the group.
HWA was established in 1998 to assist with the development and the sustainability of the local community.
It has already set up a community interest company called Our Power, supplying biomass heat from a woodchipping business.
Discussions between Christina Noble, the founders of HWA, and Argyll-based hydro developer Roy Foster, began in 2006, with a 51:49 split originally planned. But, as costs and delays increased, new investors were sought and found. Now it is a four-way split.
HWA and the Roy Foster's CRF Hydro have been joined by MEG Renewables, the renewable energy subsidiary of Mackays Retail Group. Also onboard is Richard Grubb's family who have been steeped in hydro electric history for over 100 years.
Social Investment Scotland, which provides business loans to third sector organisations, is supporting the local community at Cairndow through HWA with funding totalling £853,500 via the Scottish Investment Fund, allowing them to invest in the project.
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