Donich Water

The Donich Water scheme will be taken forward by Broadland Properties, and is located on the banks of Loch Goil. The approximate installed capacity of this scheme will be 1.2MW generating approximately 3,600MWh of energy per annum, although there are a number of alternative options. Due to grid availability we hope to obtain Planning Permission to build the scheme from 2015. The general location of the scheme is shown on the attached map.

Coire Ealt

The Coire Ealt scheme will be investigated by Gilkes Energy, and is located on the banks of Loch Eck. The installed capacity could be between 500kW and 800kW providing between 1,500 and 2,400MWh per annum. We aim to achieve Planning Permission to develop this scheme in 2013. The location map of the scheme can be found by clicking here.

River Lochy

The River Lochy scheme will be investigated by Gilkes Energy, and is located on the River Lochy which feeds Loch Awe, near to Inverlochy on the A85. The installed capacity of this scheme is in the region of 2MW with an Average Annual Energy Production of 5,000 - 6,000MWh. If Planning Permission is approved, we aim to build this scheme in 2013. The scheme location can be viewed by clicking here.

Community benefit

As part of the contract with the Forestry Commission local communities will receive an automatic annual payment depending upon the size of the scheme. Additionally, communities have the option of investing directly into the schemes although grant funding is subject to certain restrictions (see the Department of Energy and Climate Change website for more information on grants and the Feed In Tariff). We will be contacting the communities associated with the three schemes identified above in the near future but any communities wishing to contact us may do so by emailing the relevant contact below:

Broadland Properties:     dmosgrove@broadlandproperties.co.uk

Gilkes Energy:                   carl.crompton@gilkes.com

For more information on how communities can be involved in the potential hydro projects please see www.forestry.gov.uk/communitiesandrenewables

Other schemes

In the areas designated for development by BGC (known as Lots 1 & 2), approximately 450 potential hydro schemes were analyzed and filtered down to a short list of 50 schemes which are expected to be both technically feasible and economically viable. Although some of these schemes are likely to be rejected following further analysis, we hope that many of them will be developed as part of a ‘rolling’ programme over the next 5-7 years. More details on the timing of this development programme will be published during the next 2 years. A map of the approximate locations of the short list of 50 schemes is available here.