The Powering Communities to Net Zero (PCNZ) fund has two aims - to support communities who are looking to decarbonise their operations through the use of low-carbon technologies; and also help them become more resilient in the event of storms or emergencies which may impact the local electricity network and cause the power to go off.
And with applications coming in from the length and breadth of our north of Scotland operating region, community groups from as far afield as Angus and Shetland are set to benefit.
The range of applicants’ locations and the diversity in their funding objectives highlights the different needs and requirements of communities across our operating region. Here’s a sample of the successful applications, with each taking a share in the total of over £410,000 spread across the north of Scotland.
Details of successful recipients
Angus
In Angus, flood prevention is prominent in the resilience applications that were received. The Brechin Buccaneers have received £4,038 to purchase sandbags and emergency equipment to help bolster local resilience, while Carnoustie Community Council are purchasing flood prevention equipment and a portable generator with their £5,486. Finavon Flood Action Group has received £15,000 and will be using their funding to install flood barriers in key locations in Finavon including reinforcement of the existing bund.
Just along the road, with an eye on the future and the drive to net zero, the Eassie, Nevay and Kirkinch Community Association will be putting their £17,100 award to good use when they install solar PV and battery storage at their community hall. The Strathmartine Community Resilience Forum was awarded just over £12,000 to purchase community flood kits for distribution to individual vulnerable households and storage space for the equipment.
Highlands
Across the Highlands, Aultbea Community Hub, which is a former church in this rural North West Highland village, has received £20,000 to install solar panels on the roof and battery storage to improve the energy efficiency of the hub, and Evanton Community Trust has received £20,000 to install Solar PV and battery storage for the village’s Jubilee Hall, which sits northwards of Inverness. Dorne & District Community Trust's project has been awarded just over £16,000 to install an air source heat pump and other energy efficiency measures to a community hub.
On the resilience front, Tongue, Melness & Skerray Community Council will be using their £7,882 to buy portable backup power stations and firefighting equipment. And the Keltybridge & Maryburgh Water Association project is receiving £8,250 to purchase and install battery storage to ensure continuous water treatment capability in the event of a power outage.
Shetland
Two community groups in Shetland have been successful in this round of funding with the team at Walls Community Hall using their £6,000 award to stock up on mobile communications equipment which will be used to support the most vulnerable members of the local community.
And community resilience was at the forefront of the application received from South Nesting Community Hall, whose award will be used to install an external generator connection socket with changeover switch.
Western Isles
And on the Western Isles, the North Uist Development Company, who are planning to install Solar PV and battery storage on the Environmental Centre at the former Lochmaddy Primary School have received £20,000 funding.
The Hebridean Trust will be using their £11,918 to undertake electrical works in the Martin Boyd Exhibition Hall to create a multi-purpose community hub, with the upgraded facility becoming a venue for local communities to keep warm, get a hot drink or bite to eat and stay safe during an emergency situation.
Andy Smith, SSEN Distribution’s Operations Director for the north of Scotland, says:
“We’re delighted that this first year of our Powering Communities to Net Zero fund has been met with such a positive response, with applications coming in from communities large and small across the north of Scotland.
“The variety of applications has been particularly impressive, and whether it’s taking the initiative and making plans to become more resilient or thinking of how they can decarbonise their day-to-day activities, all of the communities who submitted their applications are to be commended. We’re proud to be supporting everyone’s laudable ambitions and wish our applicants nothing but success with their endeavours.”