Hydro Nation

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at on 26 October 2017.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Graeme Dey Graeme Dey Scottish National Party

I stand corrected.

Being one of only a handful of mills still powered by water, Barry mill is also probably the largest and finest example of its type remaining in working order. The mill continues to be a real tourist attraction in Angus South, where visitors can enjoy guided tours and witness first-hand the intricate process of a fully operational grain mill.

The historical hydro power project is an incredibly exciting proposal. The next stage is for those behind it to work with local authorities to carry out a feasibility study on the selected sites. That would include assessments on a range of criteria, such as potential power output, proximity to the grid, and the capacity for community involvement in the project.

In my patch, Angus Council’s green economy officer has already met with the National Trust and they are working collaboratively to assess the viability of the proposals for Barry mill. I am aware that Perth College UHI is also working with local authorities and local energy Scotland to put together an application to kick-start a pilot project as soon as possible. I hope that the proposal for a micro-hydro energy scheme at Barry mill will become a reality.

The Scottish Government is right to have recognised in the draft energy strategy the role that hydro power can play. I welcome the capping of business rate increases to 12.5 per cent for small-scale hydro schemes and the 100 per cent rate relief that was put in place for all renewable projects that offer a 0.5MW profit share for their local community. I raised the first issue with the Government on behalf of constituents.

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution also took a positive step when he announced last month that the Barclay review of plant and machinery will fast-track the valuation of hydro schemes. It is absolutely vital that we continue in this vein, to encourage and support smaller scale innovation in Scotland as we move to cement our place as a global water leader of the future.

As a member of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee, I finish by paying tribute to the sympathetic way in which many of the new schemes are being constructed. I have visited three such schemes on the Invermark, Glen Prosen and Rottal estates—two of those are in my constituency and the other is in Aberdeenshire. In every case I was struck by just how well the schemes had been made to blend into the countryside. In some cases, from a distance you can barely make them out from the surrounding landscape. For me, that is a win-win.