The Highland Council's sustainable energy installation Hydro Ness has been recognised at the 2022 VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards.

The Hydro Ness team was presented with the Engaging Scotland Award at the recent ceremony, which featured an address by Richard Lochhead, Scottish Government Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work.

Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans said: "To be recognised by VIBES for winning the Engaging Scotland award is a great achievement, of which we are very proud.

"We hope that by taking our place amongst many excellent projects working towards achieving Scotland’s Net Zero ambition, we will inspire more organisations to make a difference."

Inverness Provost, Cllr Glynis Sinclair said: "I am delighted to hear that this fantastic structure has won another major award.

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"Its success can only be a good thing for the city, not only in terms of its ambitions to create new sustainable energy options but also in terms of its appeal to visitors, who we hope will visit Hydro Ness when they come to the Highland capital and learn more about how it is helping power the largest leisure centre in Highland."

Hydro Ness, the Archimedes Screw installation on the banks of the River Ness in Inverness was recently named Small Project of The Year at the British Construction Industry Awards (BCIA 2022). The project was also commended with a Merit at the national Structural Steel Design Awards 2022 earlier this year.

The renewable powerhouse has also won the Scottish Highlands & Islands Renewable Energy Award for Best Onshore Renewable Energy Project 2022.

Hydro Ness uses the natural flow of the River Ness to generate electricity and incorporates a public viewing gallery and visitor attraction. The power generated will supply the nearby Inverness Leisure centre and provide approximately 50% of its electricity needs, saving over 140,000kg of CO2e each year.

The scheme is expected to reduce carbon emissions by over 140,000 kg per annum. This is also strengthened using natural resources in the form of an historically and ecologically important river.

The project was delivered by Highland Council, with support from architects Leslie Hutt Architect, structural engineers Hasson Engineering Solutions, steelwork contractors M. Hasson and Sons Ltd., and the main contractors Bradley and Company, Hydro NI.