Garve and District Community
Energy Project
29th March 2016
Nick Chapman & Marion O’Hara,
Community Energy Scotland
Project Overview
This project is funded by Lochluichart Community Trust
and is delivered by Community Energy Scotland in
partnership with members of the local community.
The project seeks to lay the foundation for a community
energy movement in the Garve and District Area by
establishing a local Community Energy Group and by
assessing the opportunties to use Community Benefit
payments from the nearby wind farms to deliver
community energy projects to benefit the local
community.
The project aims to do 3 things
1. Home Energy - Identify opportunities for local people
to install energy efficiency and renewables in their
homes, and then seek funding to install these
measures
2. Community-owned hydro scheme - Assess the
potential to develop a community-owned micro
hydro scheme in the area
3. Local Community Energy Group - Help to set-up a
local Community Energy Group who can develop
community energy in the Garve and District Area into
the future.
1. Home Energy – Home Energy Visits
and Open Days
Through this scheme, all residents in the area have been offered a free Home
Energy Visit by ‘Home Energy Scotland’, who produce a report identifying
suitable improvements.
What has happened so far:
• Two open events at Garve
Village Hall on 13th January and
Achnasheen Village Hall on 1st
March
• Two sets of letters sent to all
householders in the area
• Flyers erected in public places
Home Energy Visits so far
Visits
Requested
Visits
Completed
Reports
Complete
Visits
Booked
To be
booked
Cancell
ed
26
21
17
3
2
1
“ It was great to meet you…there were a few surprises when you were
telling me things I didn't know such as my hot water tank insulation
being insufficient…Added to this the amount I spend on petrol and oil
each year I realise how much of my income is simply for fuel.” - Resident
Major material outcome so far:
Two households which we visited have been referred to the national
‘Warmer Homes’ programme and have consequently been provided
with free solid wall insulation and a new heating system, with
approximate value of £15,000.
Outcome of first 17 energy reports
Energy Use
Cooking
Lights &
appliances
Water heating
Space heating
2
16
13
6
15
10
5
0
17 7 1 14 16 6 5 2 12 10 13 15 8 9 11 4 3
Household Index
5
12
10
17
Household Index
Annual Energy Cost (£)
CO2 Emissions (tones)
Annual Energy Use (kWh)
It can be seen
60000
that number 7
50000
and 17 have
40000
much lower
30000
carbon
emission
20000
because they
10000
are heating
0
using wood14
1
fuel
CO2 Emissions
8
15
9
11
4
7
3
Energy Cost
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
1 16 14 6 10 5
2 12 13 9 11 8 17 4 15 7
Household Index
3
Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy Opportunities
• A total of 76 energy efficiency and renewable energy measures have
been identified across the 17 properties. Some are common, such as solid
wall insulation, whilst others are less common, such as cavity wall
insulation – see chart below.
• Opportunities to reduce price by bulk-buying common measures and
access renewable energy subsidies
Number of recommendations
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Opportunties Identified
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy Opportunities
• £300k of home energy improvements identified so far (~£15k per
household)
• Save households on average £750 per year and reduce CO2 emissions by
80%
• If only the most cost effective measures are installed, we can still generate
significant savings at much reduced cost.
• Calculations so far do not include Renewable Heat Incentive payments,
which would generate significant additional income to the community
• Extrapolated for whole community of 177 households, around £2.6M
investment of home improvements and £150k saving per year.
What next for home energy?
In March 2016 the Garve & District Community Energy Steering Group are
preparing to apply for funding from LCT to continue this work. If approved,
this funding will enable work to be carried out installing energy efficiency and
renewable energy measures which have been recommended for individual
homes. This support, if granted, we hope may include the following four
elements:
1. Free low-cost energy efficiency measures, such as low-energy light
bulbs and draft-proofing kits available to all interested residents
2. £500 grant towards higher-cost energy efficiency and renewable energy
measures for households wishing to have this work carried out
3. Free Green Deal Assessments and Home Energy Visits offered
4. Local energy volunteers to assist residents to procure these services
2. Hydro scheme
Summary of what we have done so far:
• Desktop study of Forestry Commission land and
potential hydro sites
• Engagement with Kirknewton Community
Development Trust and financial modelling of their
hydro sites on National Forest Estate land
Kirknewton Community Development
Trust
• We met with them on 1st March 2016 in Kirknewton to
discuss their developments in the area.
• KCDT have exclusivity rights to two burns:
– Allt Riabhach
– Allt na Bana-Mhorair
• These discussions are currently ongoing but we will let
the community know the outcome shortly
3. Setting up a local Community
Energy Group
• The Community Energy Steering Group comprises four members of
the local community: John Fenwick, Sue Tarr, John Bedwell and
Laura McWhinney.
• Community Energy Scotland and the local group meet monthly to
plan the next steps of the project and discuss future opportunities.
• The group is not yet formally constituted. This is because we are
awaiting the outcome of the Garve and District Community Needs
Survey (being carried out by another organisation) is likely to make
recommendations for setting up a local development organisation.
It is likely that Garve and District Community Energy will become
part of this new organisation.
• We warmly welcome anyone in the community to come and join
the Community Energy Steering Group!
Contact Us
If you would like to find out more about the Garve and District Community
Energy Project, get a free home visits or to join the local energy Steering
Group, please don’t hesitate to contact Nick Chapman at
[email protected] or phone 07717 653 223.
We also have a project webpage, which is used to post information on
upcoming meetings and events:
http://www.communityenergyscotland.org.uk/garve-and-district-communityenergy.asp
Further information on Community Energy Scotland can found here:
http://www.communityenergyscotland.org.uk/
And for information on Lochluichart Community Trust:
http://www.lochluichartcommunitytrust.com/