£1m awarded to Highlands green energy projects

A number of community renewable energy projects across the Scottish Highlands are set to benefit from a £1 million cash injection. Scottish and Southern Energy's (SSE's) Sustainable Development Fund has been designed to provide support to non-profit and charity organisations throughout the Highlands, leading to a number of different green energy projects receiving funding.

The fund received over 100 applications of financial support, resulting in 29 grants being handed out. An independent panel - including Lord Jack McConnell, former Scottish first minister - was used to assess each of the applications to decide which applications would be awarded money.

The largest amount of money awarded to a single project was £225,000, which was given to the Scottish Canals. The funding will be used to help redevelop the visitor centre in Fort Augustus. Some £75,000 has also been awarded, which will see an off-grid hydro-electric power scheme upgraded, while the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust has been given £43,330 to put towards renewable housing.

Lord McConnell, chairman of the SSE Sustainable Development Fund, said: "At the launch of the fund, we asked for project ideas that were both sustainable in their outcomes and genuinely transformational to the local area.

"From the tip of Caithness to the sound of Mull, the successful awards will create jobs, revitalise open spaces and strengthen communities.

"I look forward to seeing the benefit this round of funding will bring to the Highlands and to reviewing an equally high standard of applications when the fund reopens in late 2015."

Other projects that have been awarded funding include the PV 2014 Group, which has been given £100,000 to install a number of photovoltaic arrays on community buildings, and the Kingussie Community Company, which will restore a 90-year-old hydro scheme.

Councillor Drew Hendry, leader of the Highland Council, said: “It is great to see so many communities in the Highlands benefiting from SSE’s new Highland Sustainable Development Fund.  Congratulations to SSE for rewarding communities who demonstrate innovation and long term sustainability and to communities for responding with so many exciting local projects.”