New £1m hydro scheme is unveiled on banks of River Ayr

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The cash-spinning Nethermills Hydro Scheme, on the banks of the River Ayr, was officially unveiled to the public on Monday.

A ribbon cutting ceremony took place before the public were able to see how the whole project will work.The £1m scheme is the fulfilment of a long-held ambition of non-profit firm, Auchincruive-based Energy Agency Renewables.A single four-bladed Archimedes screw, measuring four meters in diameter, will generate energy from the fast-flowing river.And the scheme will supply up to 83kW of green electricity to neighbouring Ayrshire College- with any not used being sent to the electricity grid.Michael Matheson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport said: “I am delighted to see the Nethermills hydro project on the River Ayr’s historic old mill weir site reaching completion.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now.Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the latest on the coronavirus crisis – at your fingertips 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories while you can customise your page with the sections that matter to you.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now on iOS and Android."It is great to see renewables projects such as this, not only generating green energy for local use but really focused on maximising benefit to the wider Ayrshire community." It’s expected that South Ayrshire Council will pocket £25,000 a year from selling the power and the scheme would receive a £27,000 feed-in-tariff.

The proceeds will be used to fund projects which reduce fuel poverty in the local area.Liz Marquis, director of Energy Agency Renewables said: “It gives me great pleasure to announce the opening of this