Aberdeenshire received its second Royal visit of the week yesterday as Prince Charles came to Braemar to bring a Victorian hydroelectric plant back to life.
The scheme on the Corriemulzie burn was once used to generate power for the Mar Lodge, which belonged to Queen Victoria’s granddaughter Princess Louise, the Princess and Royal Duchess of Fife.
For the last six years residents of Braemar have been working to have it rebuilt.
And yesterday they were given the ultimate reward as it was finally opened.
The development, which has been funded by around 200 investors from the town, will use water from the river to generate low carbon electricity for the national grid and any profits made will be reinvested in the area.
His Royal Highness visited the plant early yesterday morning to meet the people who have made the development possible.
Project manager Michael Bestwick and director of Braemar Community Hydro, Alistair Hubbard, welcomed the prince as he arrived on site.
He then pressed a button allowing water to flow into the turbine to signal that the initiative was well and truly complete.
The Duke of Rothesay then moved to Braemar Village Hall where he met around 40 people who had invested in the scheme.
Mr Hubbard described how it felt to finally have the plant opened.
He said: “It’s a relief, I’m very pleased and it’s great to see all the hard work done in the community come to fruition. Having the Duke of Rothesay here to recognise the work is the icing on the cake for me.”
James Buchan, a development officer at Local Energy Scotland, identified the potential of the project from an early stage.
He said: “I work at the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme, we give funds at the early stage of a development and help it get planning permission.
“The plant will generate 100kW and generate an income scheme for the area.
“It will provide a huge amount of local benefit.
“We’re moving towards a system of decentralisation of energy in Scotland where more is generated locally.”
Mr Bestwick added: “I’m based in Alford and know a lot of people in the area.
“I was approached by the community and asked to look at the scheme.
“The 100kW system will power most of Braemar and the main part is that any surplus funds will go into good community projects.
“It was great to see Prince Charles invited along, he’s very much a Deeside man, he’s like our neighbour.
“He’s very much into renewable energy systems.
“Balmoral had a historic 100kW system of its own, his whole lifestyle revolves around green energy and the environment.”
The scheme is expected to generate between £5,000 and £10,000 every year for projects in Braemar.
Doreen Wood is among those who will get the chance to decide where the money goes.
She said: “I’m on the committee of Braemar Community Limited, people will apply to the hydro scheme for funds and I will get the chance to distribute them.
“We’re hoping to develop the play park and set up a nature trail.
“Money will also go to the third age group and to lunch clubs in Braemar.
“Each time the new profit comes in anyone in the area will be able to apply.
“There are a lot of community groups in Braemar, being a small place can mean it’s hard to get funds so the money from the hydro will be a huge benefit.”
Speaking following the prince’s visit, Hannah Smith, policy officer at Scottish Renewables, said: “Braemar’s Community Hydro project shows that genuine concern both for the environment and the future of the local community – together with a lot of determination – can produce powerful results.
“Communities across Scotland have turned to renewable energy for a variety of very practical reasons: to boost local economies, to reduce carbon emissions and, in some remote areas, to provide heat and light for their homes.
“These schemes, from Shetland to the Borders, have encouraged people to think about the energy they use and provided a valuable source of income to areas which may not have seen investment otherwise.”
