With Extreme E’s return to Scotland for the Hydro X Prix less than a month away (13-14 July), the championship returned to Dumfries and Galloway as excitement builds ahead of the series’ return to on-track action.
Extreme E carried out a visit to its ongoing Legacy Programme in the local community, with Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E’s Catie Munnings and E.ON Veloce Racing’s Kevin Hansen in tow to get a closer look at the championship’s ongoing environmental initiatives in Scotland.
The former Glenmuckloch opencast coal mine site in Dumfries and Galloway will play host to the Hydro X Prix once more and the restored former coal mine, which is about to undergo the next phase of its major transformation into a Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) plant and wind farm, will provide a poignant backdrop for the sport, which uses its platform to raise awareness of climate change and global solutions.
As part of the series’ Legacy Programme in Scotland, Extreme E continues to work with the Nith District Salmon Fishery Board on a multi-stage environmental initiative focused on mitigating climate change effects upon Atlantic salmon, highlighting issues caused by rising water temperatures and change in rainfall patterns.
For this year’s Voyage, Extreme E headed to Solway Firth, where the River Nith feeds into the Atlantic Ocean. The location underlined the importance of the River Nith on global ecosystems, as this is where the young salmon smolts join the ocean to travel towards the Norwegian Sea, growing from 30g to 4000g in a year.
The work of the Nith District Salmon Fishery Board involves regenerating this habitat, which has been impacted by climate change and human impacts. This has involved the planting of over 1,200 native trees and building fences to protect the river habitat, which helps to stabilise the riverbanks thus minimising erosion and salmon egg mortality.
Supported by a class of local schoolchildren from Kelloholm Primary School, the championship then visited the Nith District headquarters and plant nursery, which has been funded as a direct result of Extreme E’s Legacy Programme, to observe the growth of seedlings – as well as plant some of their own which, when ready, will be transported and planted on the riverbank to benefit the area for years to come.
The Legacy Voyage concluded with a trip to Crawick River to observe the progress of trees planted previously by Extreme E – including Munnings and Hansen. To continue the restoration of the river bank, more trees will be planted to ensure that the Atlantic salmon population will continue to be viable for generations to come.
Vodafone Business, Extreme E’s Official Technology Communications Partner, has provided the Trust with hydrosensors and temperature probes to monitor water quality and temperature. This technology supports the Trust’s ongoing conservation efforts, with Vodafone Business utilising the pioneering championship as a testbed for innovation.
Ali Russell, Managing Director of Extreme E, said: “It was great for Extreme E to return to Scotland ahead of the Hydro X Prix and come back to the environmental initiatives we put in place just over a year ago. Having a positive, environmental impact on the areas we race in is vital, and so to return for our latest Legacy Voyage at the River Nith was hugely important.
“Our collaboration with local organisations like the Nith District Salmon Fishery Board exemplifies our mission to leave each location in better shape than we found it and it was brilliant to have Catie and Kevin share that with us, especially as they both helped launched the first-ever Hydro X Prix, which brought great continuity to the Voyage.”
In addition to the environmental projects, Extreme E will participate in the annual Kirkconnel and Kelloholm Children’s Gala this weekend (15 June). The ODYSSEY 21 race car will be on display, providing an exciting opportunity for the community to engage with the series and learn more about the innovative technology behind electric off-road racing.
Extreme E’s presence in Kirkconnel promises to be an event of significant environmental and social impact, reinforcing the series’ commitment to sustainability and community partnership.
Extreme E’s Legacy Programme is dedicated to addressing ecological challenges in our race locations, and supporting communities impacted most by the negative consequences of climate change. In collaboration with local grassroots organisations across each of our race locations, the championship directly funds initiatives that empower communities and raise awareness of climate and conservation-related issues impacting local areas, in harmony with the global agenda set forth by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Ali Russell added: “Involving schoolchildren and educating future generations about environmental conservation is crucial. Our goal is to inspire the local community to take an active role in preserving their natural surroundings.”
