HICEC blazing a trail with Wind2Heat

The project uses the energy from 6kW turbines to heat community buildings through storage heating, hot water or warm air systems. This additional warmth increases the sustainable use of the buildings and helps maintain the fabric in good condition. The 17 installations are effectively replacing 350MWh of mains electricity per annum, saving 143tonnes of CO2 per annum and creating warm and affordable community halls. Quotes from one of the users of the Unst Heritage Centre where the system has generated 26,500kWh in the first full year of operation have said: "Our electricity consumption appears to be halved and we will be reducing our use of the mains-powered heaters”, "It is a pleasure to be in the back office when it's windy now because the room is nice and cosy". "It’s great to step inside the front door and for the first time ever to feel warmth". Donnie MacLeod of Sandness Hall wrote “Firstly can I say how impressed we are with the heating system in the Sandness Hall. It will make an unbelievable difference to the fabric of the hall"

Nicholas Gubbins, Chief Executive of HICEC commented, "Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company is delighted to be nominated for the Scottish Renewables Green Energy award for the Wind2Heat project. This project has been a truly successful collaboration and any recognition should be shared between the communities who chose to install them, the businesses involved in installing them and the funders which include Scottish Community and Householder Renewable Initiative (SCHRI), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Orkney Islands Council and Shetland Islands Council. HICEC hope to develop many more of these systems with communities in the future.”