Location: Peedie Kirk, Kirkwall, Orkney
Technology: solar PV panels and battery storage
CARES funding: £9,800 capital grant
Date installed/operational: 27 March 2023

Background

In October 2018, members of Peedie Kirk United Reformed Church in Kirkwall asked Resource Efficient Scotland (now Business Energy Scotland) for advice on how to help them to reduce their energy use and carbon footprint. Members received a tailored report which identified which recommended several improvements they could make which would reduce their energy usage from approximately 11,800 kwh each year to 5,500kwh and their carbon emissions by 2.2 tonnes each year.

Since receiving this report, the Kirk members set about making improvements as and when funding became available. Members installed an air source heat pump, LED lighting, and improved the insulation in the kitchen and toilets area.

Other recommendations in the report were to:

  • install solar photovoltaic (PV) panels
  • upgrade the windows
  • install further insulation in the walls and ceiling.

Project aims and objectives

The Kirk applied for support from the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) Let’s Do Net Zero Community Buildings Fund. It received a capital grant to install solar PV panels and battery storage.

The Kirk wanted to use as much of the energy generated by the solar panels as possible and installed battery storage so that they could save excess energy to be used at a different time. The members estimate that they can produce 1750kw each year from a 6kw solar PV system combined with 7.5kwh of battery storage.

Outcomes and achievements

From the period of 1 April to 7 July 2023, the solar PV system has generated 2,138kwh of electricity. The Kirk are confidently expecting generation for the first full year to be at least 3,500kwh, which will also save more than 800kg in carbon emissions. They estimate that this has saved them over £400. The savings made will help them in the next stage of their energy saving plan which includes replacing window glass and insulating the main entrance which leaks considerable amounts of warm air.

Lessons learned

The Kirk’s spokesperson identified several lessons learned throughout the project.

  1. Communities should note that VAT is charged at 20%, for charities and community groups unless the building is wholly residential.
  2. A building warrant is required for a non-residential building. This may take a long time!
  3. The building standards for mounted ‘within the roof’ solar PV panels differs from panels that are mounted ‘on the roof’. Not all local authorities understand this difference. Attention may need to be drawn to the difference as applies to section 2.8 of Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 2004 as amended. Building standards Scotland advised “The building regulations in Scotland contain standards that must be met. These are functional building standards, supported by guidance contained in the Technical Handbooks, which provide one or sometimes more, ways of complying with the standards. The fire tests specified in the handbooks do not cover roof mounted PV panels and only cover integrated PV panels.”
  4. Currently, planning permission is required for non-residential buildings. A fee is payable equivalent (lowest band ‘zero sq feet of space added’).

Published January 2024.