Awesome Energy Dalriada
21 Sept 2026
- South of Scotland
- Impact
Awesome Energy (Dalriada) Limited (AED) is a community benefit society who manage a 350kW Run of River Hydro Scheme near River Avich in Argyll and Bute, that benefits the local community through the River Avich Hydro Community Benefit Fund (RAHCBF).
The hydro was successfully commissioned by Awesome Energy in January 2018 and has since contributed over £600,000 to the River Avich Hydro Community Benefit Fund.
The RAHCBF is managed by Foundation Scotland and operated by Dalavich Improvement Group (DIG), a charitable organisation supporting the rural communities of Inverinian, Dalavich, Lochavich, and Kilmaha, situated by Loch Awe in Argyll, on the west coast of Scotland.
Social Investment Scotland provided Awesome Energy (Dalriada) with a £750,000+ investment, enabling full development and commissioning of the run-of-river scheme following a community-led community share offer, and providing additional capital. This long-standing community energy investment supports social, economic and environmental impacts over a 20-year period.
Key outcomes include:
Run-of-river hydro scheme developed and commissioned in January 2018, in the River Avich area.
Establishment of a 20-year Community Benefit Fund which is expected to generate circa £2 million for the local community.
The scheme provides a sustainable energy source, with an anticipated saving of 11,950 tons of CO2 emissions during its lifetime.
To date, the scheme has performed above expectations providing significant support for a wide range of activities. These have ranged from smaller projects, including events for young people, health and well-being activities, local groups including crafts and produce growing, to larger projects including renewal and maintenance of existing facilities, provision of community housing, land purchase and management, and work towards the installation of EV charging points.
This ongoing benefit is now expected to continue well beyond the initial 20 year expectation, helping both individuals and community groups.
“SIS provided significant support for our long term vision to create a community benefit hydro scheme. Their timely investment was critical to the successful delivery of our project and helped to secure a long-term benefit to our local community.”
Company Administrator
Awesome Energy Dalriada