Location: Firth of Forth, Scotland
Technology: Solar PV, battery storage, air source heat pump
CARES funding: £78,705

Background

Dalgety Bay Sailing Club sits on the shores of the Firth of Forth and is a valued community hub. Not only does it offer member’s water sports activities, but its clubhouse also hosts a range of groups and events including art classes, Pilates sessions and crochet groups for the local community.

Club members spend a lot of time outdoors and therefore have a respect for the natural environment. Because of this they are always actively seeking ways to reduce their environmental impact wherever possible.

As vital community resource, they also appreciate how being more efficient can help cut the club’s running costs and long-term ability to serve the community.

With this in mind, Dalgety Bay Sailing Club saw an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy resilience and demonstrate environmental leadership by investing in renewable energy technologies for its clubhouse.

Project aims

The club had two main goals for the project. First, to decarbonise the clubhouse by replacing its gas boiler with a low-carbon heating system. And second to reduce running costs by generating and storing renewable energy on site.

The club installed solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage and an air source heat pump to provide heating and hot water. Together, these technologies allow the clubhouse to generate and store renewable electricity, reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and lower energy costs while supporting the club’s long-term sustainability ambitions.

Outcomes

The project successfully achieved its main aim of reducing carbon emissions decarbonising the clubhouse.

The club has now completely replaced its gas-powered heating and hot water system with an air source heat pump. This has reduced carbon emissions and improved the building’s overall sustainability.

It has also installed solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with battery storage allow the clubhouse to generate and store renewable electricity, reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and lowering energy costs.

The project has delivered a range of benefits, including:

  • Reduced carbon emissions by removing the gas boiler and switching to low-carbon heating.
  • Lower reliance on electricity from the grid through on-site solar generation and battery storage.
  • Improved energy resilience, with stored electricity available when it is needed most.
  • Increased comfort for building users, with many reporting more consistent and comfortable heating throughout the clubhouse.
  • Long-term savings on energy costs, as renewable generation helps offset electricity use.

One additional benefit has been the improvement in comfort within the building. The previous gas boiler worked to a timer schedule, heating the clubhouse at set times. In contrast, the air source heat pump maintains a steady temperature throughout the day. As a result, users have commented that the clubhouse feels warmer and more comfortable.

Local Energy Scotland support played a key role in making the project a success. CARES funding made the installation financially viable, and the club also benefited from the expertise and guidance of its Development Officer throughout the project.

Without this support, the project would not have gone ahead

Fraser Harrison, Vice Commodore, said:

“The financial support from CARES and project advice from Local Energy Scotland has made it possible for our club to move forward from an idea to reality.

My advice to anyone considering installing renewables for their community building is to reach out to Local Energy Scotland in the first instance to discuss your ideas and understand funding eligibility. Their support is invaluable.”

Lessons learned

The project has provided valuable learning opportunities.

One of the biggest lessons was understanding how an air source heat pump operates differently from a traditional gas boiler. Moving from a system that switched on and off at set times to one that provides continuous, lower-temperature heating required a change in both expectations and day-to-day building management.

Overall, the project has shown that community organisations can successfully adopt low-carbon technologies while creating a more comfortable, resilient and sustainable facility for their members and the wider community.