Tiree Community Enterprise Limited

Learn how Tiree Community Enterprise Limited used Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) funding to install a community-owned solar PV and battery storage system. The project is creating a new source of income and supporting plans for local energy trading.

Location: Crossapol, Isle of Tiree, Argyll and Bute
Technology: Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery storage
CARES funding: £227,951

Background

Tiree is a remote island community off the west coast of Scotland. The island is not connected to the gas grid, so homes and businesses rely on electricity, oil and other imported fuels. This can lead to higher energy costs and greater exposure to fluctuations in energy prices.

For many years, Tiree Community Development Trust has invested in community-owned renewable energy. Its 900kW community-owned wind turbine has generated income to support local projects and services across the island. As Feed-in Tariff support for the turbine approaches its end, the Trust began looking for new ways to generate income and strengthen its community energy work.

The Trust identified an opportunity at Crossapol, where Tiree Community Enterprise Limited, a trading subsidiary of the Trust, leases an area of south-facing land behind its community-owned business units. The site was well suited to a ground-mounted solar PV installation and battery storage system.

The project would generate renewable electricity while helping keep more of the value created by local energy generation within the community. The Trust also saw the project as a step towards developing Energy Local Tiree, a community energy initiative that aims to allow more locally generated electricity to be used and traded within the community. This could help ensure more of the benefits of renewable energy stay on the island.

Project aims

The project aimed to create a new source of community-owned renewable energy and generate long-term income for the community.

Specifically, the project set out to:

Develop a ground-mounted solar PV and battery storage installation on community-owned land.
Create a new source of income from renewable energy.
Reduce reliance on a single renewable energy asset.
Increase community-owned renewable electricity generation.
Support the development of an Energy Local Club.
Keep more of the benefits of renewable generation within the local community.
Support Scotland’s net zero targets.

CARES funding supported planning and development work, technical advice and a significant proportion of the capital costs needed to deliver the project.

Project overview

The project delivered a community-owned ground-mounted solar PV array and battery storage system at Crossapol.

Development funding supported planning, grid connection work and technical assessments. Capital funding then enabled construction of the solar PV and battery storage installation, helping create a new long-term community asset.

The PV and battery installation also supplies renewable electricity to an existing electric vehicle charging point and provides a foundation for future local energy initiatives on Tiree.

Outcomes

The project has created a new community-owned renewable energy asset that is expected to generate benefits for Tiree for more than 25 years.

Key outcomes include:

A new source of renewable energy income for the community.
Increased renewable electricity generation under community ownership.
A long-term community asset expected to generate income for more than 25 years.
Progress towards establishing an Energy Local Club on Tiree.
Reduced carbon emissions and progress towards Scotland’s net zero targets.

The project has also created opportunities beyond electricity generation. Income generated by the installation will support the work of Tiree Community Development Trust, helping fund projects and services that benefit local people.

In addition, the project is helping to support the development of Energy Local Tiree. The initiative is currently seeking expressions of interest from community members, with plans to launch a pilot scheme that will allow more locally generated electricity to be used and traded locally. This will help keep more of the financial benefits of renewable energy within the island community.

“The solar project gives us another source of income for the community and helps us make better use of locally generated energy. CARES support was vital in helping us turn the idea into a working project and build the foundations for Energy Local Tiree.”

Emmie Martin, Head of Projects and Services, Tiree Community Development Trust

Lessons learned

For Tiree Community Development Trust, one of the biggest lessons was the importance of early planning, in particular ensuring that sufficient lead time is allocated to fully prepare the complex technical requirements before moving on to construction.

Delivering a renewable energy project of this scale in a remote island community brought a range of challenges. These included managing grid connection requirements, planning considerations, procurement processes and the practical realities of delivering a major capital project on Tiree.

The project demonstrated the value of engaging early with key stakeholders, including the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) and technical consultants. Access to the right advice and expertise helped the Trust make informed decisions and successfully progress the project from development through to completion.

CARES support also played an important role in helping the project move beyond an initial idea and become a fully developed and deliverable project. For community organisations, access to development funding can make the difference between an ambitious idea remaining just an idea and becoming a reality. The Trust found that having support in place during the early stages of the project helped reduce risk, build confidence and create a stronger foundation for delivery.

For communities considering a similar project, the Trust would recommend:

Investing in early feasibility and development work.
Speaking to the Distribution Network Operator as early as possible.
Building a strong project team with the right technical expertise and support.
Allowing sufficient time for planning, procurement and approvals.
Keeping community benefit at the centre of decision-making.

The project has demonstrated that ambitious renewable energy projects can be successfully delivered by remote communities. With the right support, partnerships and preparation, community organisations can create long-term assets that generate income, strengthen local resilience and deliver lasting benefits for their communities.