Back to overview

Consul General of Japan discovers SSE hydro heritage

23 Feb 2015
Japanese-Consul-General-visit

The Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh has enjoyed a tour of SSE’s Torr Achilty hydro power station as part of a visit to the area organised by the Highland Council.

SSE welcomed the opportunity to host Consul General Hajime Kitaoka, along with Provost of Inverness (Councillor Alex Graham) and other councillors, to the site near Marybank, Ross-shire.  The tour took place as part of a wider showcase of renewable energy in Scotland for the Japanese diplomat and served to demonstrate that hydro power stations remain a fundamental and reliable component of the UK’s renewable energy mix.

SSE’s Tommy Gibson explained how hydro generation has been developed in the North of Scotland over the past seven decades and compared this to the larger-scale use of hydro generation in Japan.  Discussion centred on the sustainable and renewable energy benefits of hydro power but also the challenges around integrating this form of generation into the future energy mix.

Consul General Hajime Kitaoka commented: 

“I enjoyed a very informative visit and tour of the Torr Achilty hydro power station.

“I received a detailed briefing on the 70 year history of hydro power in Scotland and was greatly impressed to learn, amongst other things, that the same water can be used four times to generate power. I was also impressed by the consideration shown to the local environment such as the installation of a fish lift.

“I have sent a detailed report back to the Japanese Government on the ideas and innovations being implemented in the Highlands, and as Japan moves away from atomic power to renewable energy, I am confident we can learn much from Scotland and SSE.”

Councillor Alex Graham, Provost of the City of Inverness said:

“The City of Inverness and Highland Council set great store on good relations with other countries, and I was delighted that Consul General Kitaoka was able to visit Inverness and Torr Achilty.  We are very grateful to SSE for making his trip to the region so interesting and useful, and also to Councillor Biz Campbell who represented the local area at the visit.”

SSE’s Northern Hydro Group Manager Tommy Gibson commented:

“The visit by Consul General Kitaoka and the Highland Council was extremely engaging and those of us present from SSE were keen to share experiences and ideas around the use of conventional hydro power generation, onshore wind and pump storage schemes – all of which have the potential to be beneficial components in a country’s energy mix.” 

 

Photo (right to left): Councillor Isabelle Campbell (Wester Ross, Strathpeffer & Lochalsh Ward); Councillor Alex Graham, Provost of the City of Inverness; Consul General Hajime Kitaoka; Tommy Gibson; Kenny MacInnes, Economic Advisor, Highland Council;Graeme Veitch, SSE; Michael Koetsier, Highlands & Islands Enterprise; and SSE employee.