Glen Earrach Energy commits £15 million over 10 years to tackle long-standing pressures on the Ness Catchment

• Today, Glen Earrach Energy (GEE) has committed long-term funding to assist in regeneration of the Ness catchment

• This £15 million investment – beginning once the project enters commercial operation – will be co-designed with experts and those who know the catchment best

• Salmon catches on the River Ness have fallen from peaks of 3,000 to fewer than 450 in 2025; GEE's investment is designed to help reverse that decline

• The commitment also includes a publicly available 10-year biodiversity monitoring programme

Today, Glen Earrach Energy (GEE) has announced a £15 million commitment over ten years to support long-term environmental improvement throughout the Ness catchment, following the start of commercial operation. Salmon catches on the River Ness have fallen significantly in recent years, and we believe that a project of our scale has a real opportunity and responsibility to help reverse that trend.

Longstanding pressures on the catchment including altered river flows, migration barriers, aquaculture pressures and climate change have been well-documented. We are seeking to work with stakeholders across the catchment to co-design a programme from the ground up to address these issues, ensuring interventions are shaped by experts alongside those who know the catchment best and have the greatest stake it its future.

The programme will also include a publicly available 10-year biodiversity monitoring programme, developed following consultation with local communities.

This approach is designed to attract additional longer-term funding from other sources, crowding in investment into one of Scotland’s most iconic natural waterways.

These initiatives build on our vision to deliver the most water-efficient pumped storage project on Loch Ness, at scale and with care for the environment. Community engagement and empowerment are central to that vision, and our estimated £20 million per year Community Wealth Fund forms a concrete expression of that commitment.

Roderick MacLeod, Director of Glen Earrach Energy, said:

“As a landowner and developer working in the Ness catchment, we have a deep sense of responsibility towards the place we are part of. Good development should leave an area stronger than it was before and should be rooted in the needs of the landscape around it. We see this project as a catalyst for long-term good in the catchment. This commitment is about backing the work that will make a real difference at the scale and over the timeframe needed to support lasting improvement. We will work alongside those who know the river best as well as leading experts.”

If you have any questions, please email info@glenearrachenergy and the team will get back to you as soon as possible.