The community energy company (CEC), being established by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), is looking for people to join its board of directors.

The new directors will play a central role in the ongoing development of the CEC with applications being sought from people with one or more of the following areas of expertise:

• Renewable energy
• Financial management
• Community development
• Electricity industry
• Project management
• Marketing and promotion

Appointments will be on a voluntary basis, with payment of travel and subsistence expenses. 

The idea for the CEC was developed by Highlands and Island Enterprise to meet the significant demand for the establishment of community owned small to medium-scale wind farms and other forms of renewable energy generation. Thirty groups from the Highlands and Islands have already expressed interest in community renewable energy generation.

The CEC will be a non-profit distributing organisation that will invest in community owned renewables developments, principally by taking shares in the community enterprises that own the developments using a revolving fund, which is currently being established. 

The aim of the CEC will be to ensure communities throughout the Highlands and Islands gain direct financial benefit from renewable energy. HIE believes ownership is the only way for communities to secure anything near the full income from the production of renewable energy.

The main function of the CEC will be to provide advice and financial assistance to community groups to help them generate and sell energy.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise has committed a total of £945,000 towards the CEC project over the next three years. This comprises of a £245,000 contribution to the revolving fund; £600,000 grant aid to allow the CEC to contribute to the pre-construction costs of developments (£200,000 per year for three years); and a £100,000 contribution to staffing costs over the three years. 

Bids for additional funding have been made to the Scottish Executive and the European Union Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme to help finance the project. A number of commercial companies in the renewable energy sector have already expressed interest in working with the CEC. 

Nicholas Gubbins, head of HIE's community regeneration team, said: "Building on the successes of HIE's community energy unit and complementing the Scottish Executive funded Scottish Community and Household Renewables Initiative, the community energy company will help secure widespread community ownership of renewable energy schemes in the Highlands and Islands. The CEC will also help to establish the area as a leading centre for the development and use of community renewable energy technologies.

"The company directors will have an important role in the ongoing development of the CEC, providing strategic direction and decision making on all aspects of its business - it is a very exciting project to get involved with.

"Community participation is vital for project development and will benefit the local community in the longer term both through investment of profits in the local area and the transfer of knowledge and skills to the people living in that community."

For further information please contact Nicholas Gubbins on 01463 244448 or email: n.gubbins@hient.co.uk

CEC directors - HIE web site job vacancies