A hydro-electric power station which was the first to be built in Scotland for nearly 40 years has been opened by the environment minister.

Cuileig Power Station, near Ullapool in the Highlands, is operated by Scottish and Southern Energy and will generate enough electricity to power 1,500 homes.

To minimise the impact on the surrounding landscape, the �4m plant is almost entirely buried in the hillside.

Scottish Executive Minister Ross Finnie said: "Our potential to generate electricity from renewable sources is one of the largest in Europe.

Ross Finnie said renewable power was important

"Only by exploiting Scotland's renewable resources fully can we play a full part in delivering on international climate change commitments."

Hydro power is set to play a major part in hitting executive targets for renewable energy.

A recent study commissioned by the executive suggested Scotland has enough potential renewable resources to meet the country's electricity demand almost 10 times over.

Current proposals could see as much as 40% of Scotland's electricity being generated from renewable sources by 2020.

A so-called "run of river" scheme, the new plant has no dam but is instead powered by water which is diverted from the Cuileig Burn along a 2.5km underground pipe.

Once the water has been used to drive the turbines it is returned to the river.