OWNERS of the aluminium smelter in Fort William plan to become the UK’s largest provider of renewable energy. SIMEC Energy, part of GFG Alliance which owns the Lochaber smelter, has entered into an unconditional agreement to acquire Green Highland Renewables (GHR), a Scottish hydro development firm.
The acquisition will be complete by the end of February 2018 and will include 18 hydro-electric power stations in the Highlands and a team of 17 engineers, operators and designers.
In addition to GHR’s 18 existing power stations, SIMEC said it will develop a further eight hydro power plants on its Lochaber Highland estate lands, with the planning process due to start in 2018.