A multi-million pound green energy project in the Highlands could create hundreds of jobs.
GFG Alliance companies, SIMEC and Liberty, which bought the aluminium smelter in Fort William last year, say there is “huge potential” in optimising the natural resources in Lochaber to produce renewable power.
SIMEC wants to invest tens of millions of pounds in boosting the output of existing hydro-electric plants and introducing new hydro generators, as well as extending the use of bio-diesel and exploring other renewable energy sources such as wind, biomass and waste-to-energy.
It would enable Liberty to develop manufacturing activity beyond the multimillion pound alloy wheels and auto components plant which is already in the pipeline at Fort William.
Since acquiring these assets along with the neighbouring Kinlochleven hydro plant in December, SIMEC has already invested £10million to install 18MW of bio-diesel generation capacity to reduce the smelter’s reliance on imported power from the national grid.
The company’s latest proposals were revealed during a visit by Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse and Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP Ian Blackford.
They heard the companies plan to make the site even more self-sufficient by carrying out major engineering works to improve water flow through the 15-mile Treig tunnel, substantially boosting the capacity of the Lochaber hydro station.
Follow-up proposals include creating a network of smaller-scale hydro plants to maximise the economic benefit to the local economy.
GFG Alliance executive chairman, Sanjeev Gupta, said: “There is huge potential here to optimise the use of natural resources and other locally available materials to produce the renewable power that will underpin many hundreds of new industrial jobs in the area and the wider region. We look forward to making this vision a reality.”
Mr Wheelhouse said: “This is a great example of how green renewable power can support innovation in industry as well as helping us to meet our renewables targets and climate change obligations.”
Mr Blackford added: “We will be working together to ensure that Lochaber can maximise the benefits of this tremendous new investment.”
