Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company news
| Community Energy Scotland tackle Highland Cross Community Energy Scotland team and colleagues took part in this years Highland Cross, a 50 mile duathlon (20 miles on foot, 30 miles on bike) traversing the spectacular Scottish Highlands coast to coast, west to east from Kintail through Glen Affric and Strathglass to Beauly and raising over £1,000 for Highland Cross charities. | |
| HICEC lead community session at All Energy 2008 HICEC led a packed session on "Renewables for Communities" at All Energy 2008 exhibition and conference on 21/22 May. With 220 exhibitors and over 2500 delegates, this annual conference is an excellent opportunity to promote greater community involvement in renewable energy. The session "The Community Energy Business - the Bigger Picture" was led by Eric Dodd, HICEC manager, and generated much interest and HICEC staff were on hand over the two days to share hands-on experience of community projects. Read more. | |
| Future's bright for Eigg HICEC team recently visited the Isle of Eigg to see the UK's first island electrical grid network powered by a mix of micro-scale reneable energy technologies. HICEC had provided funding of £196,127 towards the new scheme through the Scottish Giovernment's SCHRI programme. The electrification scheme uses a mix of solar PV, wind power and hydro power to provide continuous 24 hour electricity supply for the first time in the history of the island. Read more. | |
| Region's renewables companies gear up for All Energy 08 With just days to go before the UK's only show devoted to renewable energy gets underway on 21st and 22nd May, Highlands and Islands businesses are gearing up to showcase some of the best of the region's talent. | |
| Western Isles community wind week Western Isles Community Wind Week organised by HICEC begins on Monday 24 March. The communities of Tolsta, Galson, Point and Horshader will present details of their projects to their local communities. Community Wind Week will conclude with an Open Day in Stornoway Town Hall on Friday 28 March. Come along and find out more. | |
| Community turbines wanted! The North Harris community is urgently seeking suitable turbines for its small-scale community wind project which was recently granted full planning permission and already has a grid connection agreement for 2.5MW capacity. The search now goes out to any company or individual who knows of turbines that are currently available or will become available in the near future. The photo of the left shows Lorne MacLeod, HICEC and David Cameron, North Harris Trust at the proposed turbine site at Monan 3 miles northwest of Tarbert. For more information and further details. | |
| Empowering Eigg Great cheers and applause from the children on the Isle of Eigg heralded the switch-on of mains electricity for the first time on a momentous day in the island's history. This ceremony was the culmination of a major renewable energy project, in which the whole island was electrified through its own renewable energy powered grid system. This project, one of the first of its kind and the largest project funded by HICEC to date, uses three different renewable technologies to provide around 98% of the electricity needs of the Island. Read more. | |
| Western Isles community projects share the load Seven Western Isles community groups working to develop their own community-owned wind projects came together for the first time at a conference in Uist organised by HICEC. Each of these community projects are at differing stages and delegates found that the conference was an invaluable way of sharing experience, as they are all dealing with the same grid and planning issues. Read more and see conference presentations. | |
| Comfort and joy with Wind2Heat Read the latest edition of HICEC's Community Energy News which included the success of HICEC's Wind2Heat programme in the Northern Isles, Highland primary schools energy projects and views from the Energy Minister, Jim Mather MSP. | |
| HICEC blazing a trail with Wind2Heat Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company has been nominated as a trailblazing organisation and Best Community Initiative for achievements in its Wind2Heat programme in the Northern Isles. The nomination was by the Scottish Green Energy Awards 2007. Through the programme HICEC has overseen the installation of 17 small wind turbines into community halls throughout Shetland and Orkney. The concept is simple – when the wind blows, the building warms up. Read more. | |
