Location: Minginish, Isle of Skye
Technology: Solar PV and battery storage
CARES funding: £17,116
Background
Minginish Community Association has evolved from a traditional village hall committee into a wider community organisation supporting a range of initiatives across the area. Alongside managing the community hall, the association is involved in projects including community housing, local grant schemes and the development of shared community assets.
The hall itself is a well-used and important local facility, hosting events, training and activities for residents and organisations. It also plays a vital role in supporting local emergency response, with mountain rescue teams regularly using the building as a base for training exercises and operations, taking advantage of its space and changing facilities.
However, rising electricity costs were creating a significant challenge. The building relies on electric heating and the more the hall was used, the higher the running costs became.
This created a difficult situation: the association wanted to increase use of the hall in response to community demand, but doing so risked increasing financial pressures.
Project overview
To address the challenge, Minginish Community Association installed a 26-panel solar PV system (11.44kWp) alongside battery storage, supported by the CARES Community Buildings Fund.
The total project cost was £21,395, with £17,116 provided through CARES funding. This level of support was essential, as the organisation was already committing significant resources to a community housing project and would not otherwise have been able to proceed.
The installation was completed quickly, with the application submitted in October and the system installed by February. Support from Local Energy Scotland helped the organisation navigate the process, while a local contractor ensured delivery within the required timeframe.
Outcomes
The system is already generating electricity, even during the darker, winter months. Initially, all generated energy has been used on site, with the greatest benefits expected as daylight hours increase.
By reducing electricity costs, the association is now in a stronger position to increase use of the building without incurring additional financial pressure.
This creates new opportunities to expand community activity, making better use of the hall as a shared space and supporting a wider programme of social and community initiatives.
Just as importantly, the project has allowed the organisation to progress multiple priorities at once. Without CARES funding, the solar installation would likely have been delayed for several years while the community housing project was completed.
Lessons learned
For Minginish Community Association, the project highlighted how renewable energy can enable wider community ambitions, not just reduce energy bills.
Dawn Campbell, Project Officer, reflected on the importance of the funding: “We certainly wouldn’t have been able to have installed the solar panels without the grant.”
She also emphasised the value of the support provided throughout the process: “Isla [Vandevoorde, Development Officer with Local Energy Scotland] has been brilliant. She guided me through the process and she’s been really helpful, really friendly and really great.”
The project has given the association confidence to explore further improvements in the future, while already delivering a practical and impactful step towards a more sustainable and resilient community building.