The BHA visits Arrochar Community Hydro and attends the SSE stakeholder meeting

Kate Gilmartin, CEO of the British Hydropower Association, visited Arrochar Community Hydro and attended the SSE stakeholder meeting at the Sloy Power Station.

The 130 kW Arrochar high head scheme is a community benefit society scheme, assisted by Energy4All, and built and maintained by Highland Eco, and brings revenue into the community for fund activities and services.

The scheme is great example of how hydropower can have a ripple effect of benefits across the community.

Kate was also able to speak to the SSE team at Arrochar to find out more about the proposed redevelopment of Sloy Power Station.

An adapted pumped storage scheme would take excess energy from the electricity grid and use it to pump water from Loch Lomond to the upper Loch Sloy, where it would be stored before being released when demand is high.

Stakeholder engagement is a crucial part of the development process ahead of SSE submitting a planning application early next year.