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Community hydro scheme commissioned in north west Sutherland


By Niall Harkiss

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A north west Sutherland micro community hydro scheme has been hooked up to the grid following its final construction phase.

The new 200kw Kinlochbervie Community Hydro, located by the A838 near Rhiconich, has been commissioned and is now in use after almost three years of development since planning was granted.

The new hydro scheme during its construction phase.
The new hydro scheme during its construction phase.

It is estimated that the community owned scheme will generate 579MWh of electricity each year – enough to power 152 homes.

Around £700,000 was raised towards the construction and development costs through a public share offering with local residents given the first opportunity to invest in the new scheme.

The new scheme has been led through its development phase by Kinlochbervie Community Company along with Highland Eco Design, who have had responsibility for all engineering work and project management. The facility will now be handed over to Kinlochbervie Community Energy, who will own and manage the project.

Kinlochbervie Community Energy, a new community benefit society, will appoint representatives from Kinlochbervie Community Energy Limited (KCEL), Highland Community Energy Society (HCES) and Energy4All to its board.

The hydro scheme has now completed its construction phase and has been commissioned.
The hydro scheme has now completed its construction phase and has been commissioned.

Margaret Meek, secretary for Kinlochbervie Community Company said: "Landscaping was completed a couple of months ago and nature has started to take over. The access road is disappearing under a bed of vegetation and will eventually fade from view.

"Construction costs have to be repaid of course but there will be a modest community benefit from the first year. This will increase substantially once all costs are repaid."

Plans to hold an official opening in September are now in the works, with tours planned for members of the community and the opportunity for local school pupils to visit the facility.

Ms Meek added: "The school children of today will be the ones who will benefit the most in the future. The hydro project is expect to have a life of over 40 years, and the real financial benefits will come once all the debt is repaid and will be enjoyed by today's children when they are adults.

"When the children visit the project and learn more about it, they will learn about hydro-electric power, even at a micro scale, and what communities can achieve."

The group held a traning session at Kinlochbervie Community Hydro on Friday July 1.
The group held a traning session at Kinlochbervie Community Hydro on Friday July 1.

An initial group of eight people from the Kinlochbervie area attended a training session on Friday July 1, as part of a local effort to monitor the scheme and carry out routine tasks going forward.

A maintenance regime has been put in place on a rota basis. Tasks will involve checking the intake screen on a monthly basis, or after a flood event, and removing debris if necessary.

Other monthly duties will include checks for material build up and greasing of parts as per guidance from the manufacturer, along with annual checks of electrical connections.

Ms Meek said: "The maintenance tasks are not onerous but it makes sense for routine tasks to be carried out locally to save money. The company that build the project can also monitor it remotely. Anything more than this will require contracting the work."


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