Watch: Inverness power plant Hydro Ness announced as finalist in Highlands renewable energy awards

THE project that brought water power back to the River Ness in Inverness is in line for a major green award.

The Hydro Ness project has been announced as a finalist in the Highlands & Islands Renewable Energy Awards 2022.

The project with its stunning shiny spaceship building, is nominated under the category of Best On-Shore Renewable Energy Project Award.

This award celebrates outstanding projects that have contributed the most towards the development of the region’s renewable energy sector and natural capital.

Hydro Ness is a 92kW Archimedes Screw hydro-electric scheme and interactive visitor experience on the River Ness, which will generate more than 500,000 kWh of renewable energy annually to the nearby Inverness Leisure Centre.

Martin MacDonald, Hydro Ness project manager at the Highland Council said: "The project team and I are absolutely delighted to be announced as a finalist for the Best On-shore Renewable Energy Project Award at the Scottish Highland Renewable Energy Awards.

"We are thrilled that the hard work from the team and our project partners is being recognised at these regional awards."

He added: "Hydro Ness is fully operationally and has been generating and supplying electricity to Inverness Leisure Centre.

"The project team are continuing to focus our efforts on phase two of the project which includes exciting interpretative content for visitors to engage with. We are all very excited to fully open the site to the public at the end of July."

You can check out the new short video of Hydro Ness from the air here.

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