LAUNCH OF THE COMMUNITY RENEWABLE SUPPORT FUND

Cllr. Archie Campbell, Chairman of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Sustainable Development Committee, launched the Comhairle’s Community Renewable Support (CRSF) Fund today - Tuesday 17th August.

The new Fund is targeted specifically at community organisations. It will support the capital costs required to allow communities to undertake renewable energy infrastructure projects.

The Fund is designed to support a range of projects from community-scaled energy generation projects through to community infrastructure projects, such as community buildings, crofting diversification and amenity lighting.

The Comhairle will invest a total of £400,000 (approximately £100,000 per annum over the next four years). It is anticipated that this investment will lever in up to £600,000 from other funding sources.

The value of a CRSF grant to each individual project shall be up to a total of £25,000.

CRSF will be delivered in partnership with Highlands & Islands Enterprise’s Community Energy Unit. This will ensure that local resources are used to best advantage and that there is no scope for overlap and duplication of services.

The first two community schemes to benefit from the Fund were announced at the launch. These projects are the Stornoway Waterwheel project and the Orinsay Village Hall Heat Pump Project.

The Waterwheel project will see the Stornoway Trust restore a derelict corn mill within the Castle Grounds. A key aspect of the project will be the installation of a 4.5m waterwheel, which will provide a renewable energy source to power amenity lighting in the Castle Grounds. The new lights will run from the mill itself, along the frontage of the grounds out to Cuddy Point. The project also includes the introduction of new woodland walks to lead visitors to the wheel project, with local artists and designers involved in the preparation of information boards, signage and planting.

Orinsay Village Association (OVA) are presently constructing a new hall. Heating of the hall will be provided by a heat recovery system in the form of a ground source heat pump linked to an under-floor heating system. This system will have a range of important benefits - it will deliver a sustainable energy heat source, which will reduce the overall heating and running costs, thereby making the hall more useable and accessible to the community.

Cllr. Campbell said: “The Comhairle is keen to see communities throughout the Western Isles take best advantage of the potential of renewable energy. Local communities have a range of energy needs and renewable energy offers good solutions for many of these needs. The Community Renewables Support Fund has been established to help and support communities develop local community energy projects.

“This Fund has been specifically designed to support a range of different ideas and a range of different types of project. I would hope that the Fund can “kick-start” some small-scale community energy generation projects and that we will see a varied range of infrastructure projects coming forward, utilising the full range of renewable technologies from wind through to heat pumps, solar, marine and biomass”.

Cllr. Campbell added: “The Western Isles have an abundant renewable energy resource, which offers real opportunity to our communities. I hope that the establishment of this Fund will encourage local communities to think about their needs and to bring forward some exciting and innovative energy renewable projects.

Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk