Cumhachd Shlèite is an exciting new micro hydro development in Sleat, the southern peninsula of the Isle of Skye.
Owned by Sleat Hydro Community Benefit Society, the project aims to reduce carbon emissions; generate funds for community benefit; and improve awareness of environmental issues and community ownership.
The scheme will be located on Allt a’ Cham-aird in Tormore Forest with an installed capacity of 34 kW. We expect to generate 148,000 kWh of clean, green energy each year.
We have accreditation with the Feed-in-Tariff scheme which guarantees us payments on the generation and export of renewable electricity. All of the electricity produced will be sold to the National Grid.
We plan for construction to begin in spring 2021.
On 7 December 2020, a community share offer was launched to raise the full £235,000 required to build the micro hydro scheme. The share offer was successful and closed on 15 February 2021 after receiving over 200 applications from over 150 different households.
We raised over £155,000 from Sleat residents alone with over £200,000 coming from the Skye and Lochalsh area. All 174 members who have invested in us will become a member of the society with equal voting rights and become entitled to receive interest payments on their investment from 2023.
All profits from the sale of electricity will be used for community benefit and we expect over £150,000 during the first 20 years. This will be used to fund sustainable local projects which benefit the Sleat community and our environment.
investing in green energy
The project was initiated by Sleat Community Trust who own Tormore Forest and set up Sleat Hydro Community Benefit Society to manage the project. At the first AGM, shareholders will elect the inaugural board of Sleat Hydro CBS.
Currently there are three initial directors (Martin MacGillivray, Polly MacInnes and Garry Noakes) and a society secretary (Mark Entwistle). Sleat Community Trust appointed Kenny Nicolson as the Project Officer.
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