Community Energy

 

REAP Community Energy Project

REAP has been working with communities in Moray and beyond for over 12 years. The funding from the CCF has enabled us to marry up our passion for practical community development with our long-standing environmental aims in this exciting community energy project. We have a dedicated Community Energy Officer to research and implement energy strategies within community buildings and groups throughout Moray to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs for busy volunteer committees and to help groups look at using renewable energy to support their future sustainability. This can be through energy saving measures, installing renewables and benefiting form feed-in tariff income and helping to use these interventions to also develop district heating and energy systems for the wider benefit of the local community.

In our previous Climate Challenge Fund work with many village halls throughout Moray eg Newmill, Mulben, Findhorn, Hopeman, Buckie, Inchberry, Farr and Drommuir among others, it has become very apparent that there is limited research producing practical advice for village halls to support the planning and implementation of energy efficiency measures allied to district heating systems. In this proposal we have sought the advice of ESSaC and Community Energy Scotland.

The Newmill Hall Committee experienced delays and was hampered by a lack of clear information from a variety of agencies. Indeed the project would have been at risk without REAP’s hands on support.

It should also be noted that 24% of homes in Moray are not on mains gas supply compared to only 14% for the whole of Scotland (DECC). Access to alternative renewable energy systems is an urgent priority.

Our targeted outcomes will be:

• An end of project report will be produced for public consumption clearly setting out steps to be taken in planning and implementing energy efficiency measures, the use of renewable energy technology and the use of district heating systems in relation to rural community buildings and surrounding homes. The report will list sources of advice, funding and the supply of technology and materials as well as quantify achievable carbon emissions.
• The formal buy-in of established agencies working in this area to develop a collaborative approach and partnership to district heating in rural areas of Moray
• 3 village halls will work with REAP to develop case studies related to the implementation of district heating systems using renewable energy.

 

We propose to :-

• Research the concept

• Network with communities and relevant agencies

• Identify opportunities and sources of finance

• Develop partnerships and agreement among stakeholders on a strategic way forward

• Enable 3 communities in Moray to develop a proposal to reduce the C02 emissions of their community buildings through improved insulation and the use of renewable energy, and to plan a district heating system.

• Analyse and quantify estimated carbon emissions from proposed schemes.

• Produce an end of project report that can be used by communities throughout Scotland to further develop this concept and access funding.

Partnership working
REAP will work closely with partner organisations such as Moray Federation of Community Halls & Associations , ESSAC , Community Energy Scotland , Moray Citizens Advice Bureau , SCARF and Moray Council Housing Department.

For more information please fill in the contact form. Thank you.

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