Highland Tourism Community Interest Company (HTCIC) has announced a Premier Sponsor for its Highland Renewables activities. Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable power generator, will provide specific support that will enable the delivery of a series of roadshows with Kate Forbes MSP (a Highland Tourism Ambassador and former Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy) as key speaker – these will be focused on engaging business and community leaders from across the region in a conversation about growing the Highland economy.

Business leaders from the renewable energy and tourism sectors, as well as whisky, heritage and other sectors important to the Highland economy, will be invited to attend the roadshows along with community leaders to discuss actions to benefit the growth and future of the Highlands. The roadshows are planned for early 2024.

The sponsorship will help to grow the already expanding Highland Renewables activity which is part of the Highland Tourism CIC group. Its remit is to bring together the renewables and tourism sectors to explore how their combined investment and collaboration can help the Highlands achieve the goal of becoming more prosperous and a global leader in sustainable tourism and renewable energy.

Yvonne Crook, Chair of Highland Tourism CIC said: “This is a major commitment from a leading renewable energy business. It is a significant development which enables us to increase our Highland Renewables activity and guarantees the delivery of a series of roadshows that will play a major role in growing the Highland economy.

“Renewable energy and tourism have been brought together in a mutually beneficial union that will work to address the climate emergency and help to attract a new generation of tourists who are seeking more sustainable destinations. We said there had to be a conversation between leaders in the two sectors, and that is now happening. These roadshows will advance that aim even further. Business and community leaders will play a key role in the roadshows and we thank Statkraft for their essential support. Their backing will also ensure the go-ahead for another exciting major project we are planning for 2024 and will announce that separately.”

Iain Robertson, Head of Statkraft Scotland

Iain Robertson, Head of Statkraft Scotland , said: “Bringing together the renewable energy and tourism sectors is a world-first and will surely be good for the Highland economy. Statkraft has a good neighbour ethos, whereby we try to bring extra value to the communities where we have developments and operations. The work being delivered by Highland Tourism CIC is  ground-breaking and we’re pleased to be playing our part in making it all happen.”

Kate Forbes MSP said: “At the launch of Highland Renewables I said that a key theme must be collaboration. It is only in working together and having a conversation about how we can grow the Highland economy that our aspirations for prosperity can be met. This commitment from Statkraft is very welcome as it ensures that conversation will now go across the region via the roadshows. I am delighted to be taking part and excited at the prospect of hearing the thoughts and ideas of business and community leaders.”

Highland Renewables has three founding members in GreenPower, BayWa r.e. and Low Carbon.