The 1.9MW Ederline hydro project on the shores of Loch Awe has begun generating power, Gilkes Energy has announced.
The project, the largest developed so far by Gilkes Energy, is a JV scheme with landowners, the Wilson family.
Construction on the project began in May 2012 following planning permission and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) licence approval in early 2011. Features include a dam and multiple intakes. All works were delivered on time and budget despite some delays due to FiT policy uncertainty.
"We are very pleased to have delivered this ambitious project on time and on budget," said Carl Crompton of Gilkes Energy. "It is a larger and more complex project than average primarily due to the presence of the dam, multiple intakes and long grid connection.
"Financing too was far from simple as the project had to be structured to satisfy the demands of a number of investors and a debt provider. However...we got there in the end and now have a commercial-scale project which has contributed to the local economy and employment."
Photo: Ederline dam, complete and full in January 2014 (Source: Gilkes Energy)
