Renewable energy is focus of government minister's visit to Inverness
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The planned Castle Street Energy Centre has taken centre stage for a political visit.
UK government minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord was in Inverness to see how Levelling Up Fund money is being spent.
The energy centre, on the site of the former Castle Street toilet block next to the Inverness Town House car park, is designed to provide a low carbon heating source, which extracts heat from the air, allowing it to heat and provide energy to Inverness Castle and the Town House.
The council’s interim depute chief executive Malcolm MacLeod said: “This project will allow us to breathe new renewable energy into Inverness, support local jobs and create a fantastic asset for the people of the Highlands, by contributing to decarbonisation, for years to come.”
Mr Offord said: "It’s great to see progress on this hugely important project that will provide great Inverness landmarks with clean, green energy. The community-driven improvements we’re investing in will make a big difference in the area, enhancing the city’s rich cultural landscape.”
There are three city projects being supported with almost £20 million from the fund.
The others are designed to provide sustainable energy to Northern Meeting Park and sustainable energy to Bught Park, as well as neighbouring properties at both sites.
Highland Council’s Inverness leader Ian Brown said: “We have great ambitions for the Highlands and its future development. Our aim is to be able to promote Inverness as a vibrant modern city, with a forward-thinking attitude. It deserves a modern energy system to go with this. Producing cleaner energy allows us to take strides towards achieving those targets.”
Mr MacLeod added: “We are in a position of being able to make real changes here in the Highlands. The UK government’s Levelling Up Fund grant has handed us the opportunity to develop environmentally friendly initiatives in the area.”
