Nothing new under the rain

I was in the village of Dalavich today (which is on the west side of Loch Awe ) to open the new community hydro scheme.

I have been pleased to work with the Dalavich Improvement Group (DIG) and then with its offshoot the wonderfully named Awesome Energy (Dalriada) Ltd as the scheme has developed both in helping to make representations to bodies  about assisting it  and in trying to solve some of the inevitable difficulties that always arise with such plans. 

Today was therefore  a time for celebration as the ribbon was cut (the uncut state is in my extra picture which also shows the turbine, made in the Czech Republic and monitored from there as well as locally) although it has been generating since the end of January, and at slightly above the target figure.   Today's rain was just adding to the flow. 

I was intrigued to see alongside the new generator house the remains of an old late Victorian one with  some very rusted equipment still inside.   This was apparently built to provide power to the local "big house" and those who have been working on the new scheme have been careful to preserve  what is left, reminding all of us today that there is nothing that is ever completely new though the capacity of the modern one is vastly bigger and will earn the community (rather than a private landowner) several million pounds during its lifetime which will be used to invest in a sustainable future for the community.