Renewable energy with local benefits
Montrose Estates supports renewable energy through the Burn of Mar and Buchanan Community Hydro Schemes, the Auchmar Biomass District Heating System, the deployment of smaller solar and heat pump technologies and EV chargers.
Burn of Mar Hydro Scheme
In 2012, planning permission was granted for the 500-kilowatt Burn of Mar hydroelectric project. This run-of-river scheme no generates over 1,500,000 kWh of electricity per year. While requiring significant debt funding, the £2.5 million project has been transformational in providing a stable revenue stream for the Estate.
The Burn of Mar hydro scheme supplies clean energy to the National Grid. 100% clean power is generated by delivering water from two intakes through 3.5 kilometres of buried pipeline to a Pelton turbine that drives a vertical axis generator, before the water is returned to the same watercourse below the powerhouse.
Looking forward, the Estate is evaluating opportunities to augment this scheme with additions such as solar generation and on-site energy storage.
Supporting Community hydro power
Building on our experience with the Burn of Mar scheme, the Montrose Estates team provided project management expertise and development capital to support the successful creation of the 100-kilowatt Buchanan Community Hydro Scheme. The intake, powerhouse and grid connection for the scheme are located on estate ground leased to the community. The scheme started generating electricity in July 2022, when it was opened by the Scottish Cabinet Minister for Net Zero, Energy and Transport.
Now a productive asset that supports numerous projects and initiatives with direct funding, the community-owned hydro scheme continues to make a significant impact locally. To date, this has totalled over £90,000 in funding.
Sustainable heating for estate homes
In a move towards more sustainable domestic heating, the Estate replaced oil and gas boilers at Auchmar with a biomass district heating system in 2016. This centralised system supplies heat to four dwellings from a 130-kilowatt woodchip boiler and fuel supply store. The wood supply for the boiler is all grown, naturally seasoned and chipped on site and certified annually by Woodsure as a quality, sustainable wood fuel.
The Estate is committed to creating more sustainable and energy-efficient homes through its ongoing programme of renovations. Non-fossil fuels are used for new heating systems wherever possible, such as the 13-kilowatt air source heat pumps recently installed at Gartincaber Farmhouse and Gartincaber Cottage. These electric-powered, low-carbon heating systems produce 2-4 times more energy than they require, making them a highly efficient alternative to the traditional oil boilers that they have replaced.
Electric vehicles and charging points
Montrose Estates has begun transitioning to electric vehicles. In addition to six electric golf carts, a dual 22-kilowatt electric vehicle charging point was installed at Buchanan Castle Golf Club in 2026. Estate teams also use an electric Polaris all-terrain vehicle for regular maintenance work, from fencing to woodland management.Buchanan Community