Big Burn project runs out of power
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It could be a case of power just to the people of Golspie after the collapse of ambitious plans for a micro-hydro scheme.
The project developers are now trying to rescue the scheme at the Big Burn with a smaller plant, which could still generate thousands of pounds a year for the community.
Instead of exporting power to other areas, the new hydro scheme would supply just Golspie.
Nearly £200,000 of public money has already been sunk in the project, including £42,000 for licences to power giant SSE.
The original scheme was to produce 100kw - which in turn would generate £130,000-a-year for 20 years for the local community.
However in September, SSE said it would only allow a 50kw plant - which in turn scuppered investment.
Now a group, including Dr Paul Monaghan, MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, are trying to realise the smaller scheme.
A charitable company, Golspie Community Power, had been formed to push forward the original 450,000 scheme.
Accessed off the A9 at the eastern end of the village, the Big Burn is visited by thousands of people a year.
The idea of a hydro-scheme was first mooted by local resident Helen Houston, a former member of Vision Golspie, a group which grew out of the Small Towns Network and was formed to carry out improvements to Golspie.
Vision Golspie was granted funding by Community Energy Scotland (CES) to undertake a feasibility study into a renewable energy project at the Big Burn.
The new community power company evolved from Vision Golspie.
Among the funders - in cash or kind - were the Scottish Government's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), Social Investment Scotland, Highland Council, LEADER and the Climate Challenge Fund.
The money has been spent on specialist consultants, a project officer and obtaining various permissions - including water extraction licences.
But development officer Gordon Robertson said despite approaching 28 banks, no funder was prepared to back the smaller scheme.
A special unit within SSE - which helps realise rural power schemes - was now looking at trying to get the 50kw project up and running. But it is unlikely they will put money into the scheme - instead they will help us with ideas etc.
"We are trying to pressure SSE - this is a scheme that is viable and is ready to go," said Mr Robertson. "Dr Monaghan is also involved in the discussions.
"SSE will only give us 50kw - because of pressure on the main grid - so we can't export electricity. No back would fund the smaller scheme - as OFGEM's feed-in tariff rates have also dropped. There is also a time limit of two years in which we can build the scheme, which runs out in September, so it is physically impossible to realise that now.
"We have been caught between a rock and a hard place. We have been told by SSE there is no chance of getting more than 50kw before 2020.
"So we are now looking at the smaller scheme and not exporting power - it will just be for Golspie. We think it is viable and we will go back into the market to find new funding.
"But there has been nearly £200,000 spent on this so far.
"We will look creatively at every option - but it has to be a viable scheme. It could be done by crowdfunding or by share offer. We are open to all ideas.
"We are also grateful that SSE are looking at it again - though we . None of us want to see public money going to waste - especially on what is a viable and environmentally valuable scheme for the benefit of the community."
The original scheme was to involve constructing a weir at the top end of the walk above and on the other side of the road to Big Burn Cottage and a turbine house near the viaduct at the start of the walk. The weir and the turbine house would be connected by pipe work.
None of its value as a local attraction and tourist destination would be lost, said the company, which added that the profits would be wholly devoted to local charities and projects.
Run by a voluntary committee of local residents, Golspie Community Power has secured the agreement of landowner Sutherland Estates who have an added interest because water from the Big Burn is used to feed the fountains at Dunrobin Castle. This flow has been guaranteed, as has that to Golspie Mill.
