Our Story 

​

Arran Eco Savvy has been talking about and working towards a renewable energy project since its formation in 2013. The steering group for renewables has been active since late 2018 and in February 2020 we began to work on a proposal for this funding. 

​

In 2018 we started our search for the best project to kickstart Arran Community Renewables. We considered a host of sites and technologies, speaking to the community, landowners and the local electricity operator alike. We learnt two main things:

​

Keep it simple. Great things come from humble beginnings. Without a track record we need to walk before we can run and this means keeping the first project technically simple to focus our efforts on eliminating risk and building confidence in the project partners and community share offer concept. Solar PV systems are well proven, have a developed supply chain, good product warranties and carry minimal planning risk compared to other options. The future may bring larger, more complex projects, but for now we know exactly what we're getting  and can take these learnings forward.

 

The steering group wrote a proposal to conduct an island wide assessment of what is possible across all technologies. We were not successful in finding funding for this due to the scope being so wide, but we have spent a considerable amount of volunteer time working through different options ourselves.

​

Following consultations in 2019 and further workshops in early 2020 we were pleased to see renewable energy was the top of preferred future projects. We did intend to hold further workshop style events to progress the options that are viable but in spring this year that was clearly not possible. Work did continue through lockdown to identify projects and a wide range of different schemes have been considered.

 

Following this search the Auchrannie presented a great opportunity for our first potential project. It ticked both these boxes; the Sports Hall roof was well suited for solar panels and the adjacent Spa building has a year-round power demand that is well matched to the times when the panels will generate electricity. Unfortunately we have had to start to look beyond the Auchrannie site as increasing uncertainty around hospitality insurance presents an unforeseen considerable cost. Read more about the current situation here. 

​

Since August 2021  the group of volunteers at Arran Community Renewables have been working closely with Local Energy Scotland and a local farmer and environmentalist Kenneth Bone, to plan for the development of a Solar PhotoVoltaic Array at a site in Glenkiln. There is much work still to be done from obtaining Planning Consent, Environmental, Financing, Procurement and Installation.  However we are both optimistic and enthusiastic about the potential for this site.  We have been successful in securing support from the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) to pursue the development of a community solar farm at this site. CARES has awarded a grant of £10,000 plus additional technical resource and access to a development loan. Read more here... 

​