The area, which covers Inverness-shire, Ross & Skye, Lochaber and the northern Highlands, is the first of three lots that are open for small scale hydro development.
GHR will identify suitable schemes and potential sites for development, which if agreed by the Forestry Commission, can be taken forward by the company through the development, planning and – if consented – construction phases.
Richard Lochhead, cabinet secretary of rural affairs and environment, Scotland, said: “As part of the effort to develop a diverse, low-carbon economy, Scotland has committed to seeing renewables deliver 20% of our total energy used and 50% of our gross electricity consumed by 2020.
“Small scale hydro schemes can help to carry us towards that renewable energy future, but they bring many additional practical and tangible benefits to communities – from increasing the skills base for local trades, creating new jobs and bringing economic benefit.”
