Highland Spring Group, leading UK producer of natural source waters, in partnership with clean energy company SSE Energy Solutions, has announced the launch of a new solar farm in Scotland.
Located in the Ochil Hills, Perthshire, the 7-megawatt, 23-acre project will supply up to a quarter of the Group’s electricity needs for its main Blackford site. Construction is due to start in Summer 2025 and it is expected the solar farm will be fully operational by early 2026.
SSE has been appointed to manage the installation and running of the solar site on behalf of Highland Spring Group.
In addition to providing power to the manufacturing site and offices, the project has direct, tangible benefits for the local community including a sensitive design to minimise its visual impact, providing a free-of-charge electricity supply to Blackford Primary School and rapid EV chargers for community use.
In recent years Highland Spring Group has accelerated its business decarbonisation roadmap, delivering projects and initiatives in collaboration with customers and partners which reduce emissions across its entire operations from source to shelf.
The business was one of the first companies in the UK to have its science-based net-zero target approved by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) under the Net-Zero Standard and recently attained a B score from the Climate Disclosure Project (CDP) for its work to address climate change.
Jim Fairlie MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire said: “Highland Spring are an important local employer who have done a power of work in recent years to decarbonise. I welcome this partnership between Highland Spring and SSE, and the community benefit that it will bring both for the school and with the community use EV chargers.”
Simon Oldham, managing director Highland Spring Group said: “Environmental and social responsibility have always been at the heart of our purpose and this project not only positively supports our sustainability strategy but our good neighbour programme too. Harnessing the renewable energy transition is a key part of our journey towards a zero-carbon future, and we are delighted to have collaborated with SSE to bring this solar site to life.”
Stuart Batty, senior project development manager, said: “This partnership with Highland Spring marks a key step in Scotland’s renewable energy journey. By uniting our expertise with Highland Spring’s sustainable leadership, the 7MW solar project is a fantastic example of local power in action, decarbonising businesses and enhancing energy resilience for the community”
Margaret McMillan, head teacher, Blackford Primary School, said: “The solar farm is a major development for the local community and on behalf of the entire school I am delighted that we will benefit in a tangible way from Highland Spring’s focus on renewable, sustainable energy.”
Councillor Liz Barrett, Perth and Kinross Council’s Climate Change and Sustainability Vice-Convener, commented: “The impact of climate change means we all need to consider renewable sources wherever we can as the way forward for energy generation. This is a major project for the Blackford area and I warmly welcome the valuable support to local life that Highland Spring and SSE will provide through the solar farm both in EV chargers for community use and significantly, a free electricity supply for Blackford Primary School.”
