IT will cost millions of pounds to develop and could take a decade to fully install, but plans to put Galashiels in the vanguard of urban hydro-electricity generation have taken a tentative step forward.

The feasibility of harnessing the Gala Water and the network of mill lades which once powered the town’s historic textile industry will be explored over the next few months thanks to a £24,000 grant from Scotland’s Local Energy Challenge Fund (LECF).

It was awarded last week to Energise Galashiels – the group set up late last year to promote the wellbeing of the town in the new railway age – and was one of 23 successful Scottish bids out of the 67 applications.

The study, which must under the terms of the grant be concluded by February next year, will look at potential sites for the installation of so-called low head generators on the town’s water courses.

“It will confirm the feasibility of each potential site and identify the most appropriate technologies to deploy,” explained architect Ranald Boydell of Energise Galashiels.

“Work on this will begin in the next few weeks and, when completed, the intention is to apply for phase two funding from the LECF.

“The goal will then be to develop the hydro systems with the aim of aggregating around 400kw of installed capacity – enough to supply electricity to 1,000 households although we hope that many local businesses will also benefit.

“It’s an ambitious project, but this grant is a terrific endorsement of what we are trying to achieve - to make the town vibrant, sustainable and attractive to residents, visitors and new businesses.” The LECF bid was supported by Scottish Borders Council, Community Energy Scotland and the volunteer Gala Waterways Group, set up in 2011 to rejuvenate and renovate the town’s mill lades, many of which are overgrown and blocked with debris. The hydro project was first mooted in March when Energise Galashiels called a meeting of parties interested in developing a low carbon strategy for the town – enhancing the anticipated reduction in road transport-related emissions with the re-opening of the railway.

Among those represented at the meeting was Silver Hydro Ltd, a new renewable technology company which has recently relocated from Edinburgh to Caddonfoot where it is developing an innovative hydro generator – the Water Engine – capable of harnessing the potential of low-head water courses.

“The first commercial system is currently being installed on another site in the Borders and, if all goes well, it could be an ideal fit for Galashiels where, up to now, the relatively low height of the waterways has made capturing hydro electricity out of the question,” said Mr Boydell.