Uist’s Local Energy Plan published
“For the people of Uist energy is an existential issue, not just because the islands are on the outer edge of the UK National Grid and are particularly affected by power outages, but because Uist is on the front line of climate change due to the low-lying topography and exposure to Atlantic storms.”
A long running, far reaching community led project came to fruition last month with the publication of the Uist Local Energy Plan.
Produced jointly by North Uist Development Company, Community Energy Scotland and Coimhearsnachd Bharraigh agus Bhatarsaidh, the Plan provides some fascinating detail on our ‘status quo’ and goes on to set out the local priorities and development actions required to take us to a more secure and sustainable energy system.
Over 400 Uist residents helped shape the Plan over the last two years, with work led by an eight-strong steering group and championed within the community by eight Local Energy Ambassadors.
A comprehensive community engagement exercise included ‘energy cafés’, a ‘community ideas’ survey, information and feedback sessions with primary and secondary school pupils, local business meetings and tailored sessions with vulnerable community members to help ensure that everyone in Uist had the opportunity to contribute their thoughts on what a better local energy system might look like.
The result is a Plan that ACTUALLY reflects the views and aspirations of those of us who live and work here in Uist.
Using the community’s feedback, the project team put together a list of 40 potential proposals, ranking suggestions and ideas, from a ‘local smart grid with local sustainable generation’, which was supported by 84 respondents, to ‘investigate the potential for local hydropower and implement projects accordingly’, which was supported by only seven.
From this long list, the five top-ranking priorities were put forward for progression:
• Local smart grid with local sustainable generation, making use of resources e.g. wind energy and local sales of electricity for self-sufficiency (as independent as possible from the mainland grid to minimise exports & ideally for reduced local energy costs)
• Investigate the potential for local wave energy and local tidal energy (including tidal built into causeways) and implement projects accordingly
• Each township to have its own renewable energy generation assets e.g. wind and storage facilities with a local network (including potential for network of district heating schemes)
• Multi-purpose demand responsive eco-friendly community transport vehicles available to residents i.e. community electric minibuses in each township
• Create more community growing spaces, including more allotments, and food growing groups
The Project team then delivered an ‘Early Stage Feasibility Report’ for each of the top five community priorities.
The Plan concludes by setting out 33 actions that can take Uist in the right direction, from tactical quick wins such as ‘increased frequency, better connectivity and decarbonised public transport’, to longer term strategic goals.
The end result is a blueprint for a better Uist, setting out the information we need to transform our energy systems for the benefit of our community and our planet.
Commenting on the publication of the Uist Local Energy Plan, Rona MacKay, CES’s Benbecula-based Head of Operation & Governance said:
“Studies and consultations in Uist are frequently done by mainland consultants. We set out to prove that our small community has both the technical knowledge and the community engagement skills to create a high quality report, which is truly reflective of our community’s needs and aspirations. The engagement beautifully reflected island and Gaelic community life and the impact that policy can have, not only on our economy, but on our culture and way of life. Many thanks to the Steering Group and all the partners for their hard work, and to the Uist community for their willing participation.”
Calum Iain Maciver, Depute Chief Executive at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar said:
“Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is pleased to have supported the Uist community in the preparation of the ambitious Uist Local Energy Plan. These islands lie in the front line in the battle against Climate Change, under threat from rising sea levels and an increased incidence of extreme storm events. At the same time, the existing National Grid struggles to provide a resilient electricity supply to the islands and is unable to accommodate the volume of renewable energy generation required to transition Uist society to Net Zero in an acceptable timescale.
“It is to the credit of the Uist community that they have recognised and embraced these challenges to come up with a Local Energy Plan which will enhance local energy self-sufficiency through off-Grid ‘private wire’ solutions, harness the power of wave and tide for local energy, develop locally powered district heat schemes, expand demand-responsive low carbon travel options and increase on-island food security. These are all vital steps in the journey towards Net Zero.
“This new Local Energy Plan places Uist in the vanguard of energy-aware communities across the UK.”
