21 January 2002Comhairle's Practical Move On RenewablesRenewable energy will be put to practical use in the Western Isles thanks to an innovative project designed by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and funded by the Scottish Executive’s Scottish Energy Efficiency Office. The Comhairle has received assistance form the Executive to provide small scale wind power and photo voltaic cells for the proposed waiting room facilities at Aird ma Ruibe ferry terminal on Berneray. The Comhairle took the initiative once it was discovered that connection costs to the electricity network for the project would be high. A renewable energy alternative was proposed based on a small wind turbine, solar panels and a battery backup system. The renewable energy package proved to be the better economic option and offered the added advantages of saving on carbon use. Approaches were made to the Scottish Executive’s ‘Clean Energy Demonstration Scheme’ for assistance. The Comhairle received a grant of £6,000 through the Scheme to assist with equipment and installation costs. Cllr Donald M Mackay, Chairman of the Comhairle’s Alternative Energy Member/Officer Working Group, welcomed the partnership between the Comhairle and the Executive and suggested that “this project illustrates that renewable energy is an issue that concerns both ends of the spectrum, as a major investment opportunity and at a small scale project level.” Cllr Mackay went on to say “I would urge all groups or organisations in the Western Isles with an interest to examine the terms and conditions of the Executive’s Clean Energy Demonstration Scheme. Practical funding assistance can be made available for such schemes. You never know, our islands may become the ‘Energy Innovation Zone’ long before we had ever imagined”. Further information on the Scottish Clean Energy Demonstration Scheme
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