A number of village halls in the Highlands area are to benefit from free solar power, it has been announced.

The initiative is being made possible through a £100,000 grant from SSE's Sustainable Development Fund.

Launched in 2013, the project is managed by the charity Community Energy Scotland and fully funded through SSE's onshore wind community benefit programme. The solar scheme allows community-owned organisations in the Highlands the opportunity of a free 4kWp solar panel system for their building.

Each solar system is expected to generate around 3,200KWh of electricity a year, leading to an annual energy cost reduction of between £800 and £1,000 per building for 20 years.

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Korrie Renewables, a Highland-based company, will be responsible for carrying out the work.

A total of 11 community buildings in the Highlands will eventually be part of the scheme, but the first halls to be included will be located in Ardgay and Bonar Bridge.

Ardgay Public Hall and Bonar Bridge Community Hall had solar power installation works take place last week, SSE has said. Later this month, similar works will be undertaken at Pittentrail Recreation Hall and Rosehall Village Hall

Graeme Keddie, Head of Community Investment at SSE, said: "It's great to see so many community organisations taking an active interest in reducing their energy consumption and we are delighted to be able to support their ambitions in such an efficient and collaborative way.

"By supporting their running costs over 20 years, our funding will help safeguard important local facilities and allow groups to divert any savings towards their long-term community development plans."

Steven Watson, Community Energy Scotland, added: "As the national charity dedicated to increasing the generation and wise use of energy in communities, we'd like to thank SSE for backing this project.

"It will be great to see local community halls and sports clubs benefit from renewables for at least the next twenty years."

(JP/CD)