Edinburgh to install largest community-owned urban solar project in the UK
The City of Edinburgh Council announced this week that it is to install what is believed to be the largest community-owned urban renewable energy project ever undertaken in the UK in partnership with the Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative (ECSC), supported by Energy4All.
Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative Initiative
Public buildings such as schools, leisure and community centres will be chosen to host the solar technology, which is expected to deliver significant environmental and social benefits.
The energy generated by the installations will help to make future cost savings while reducing the capital’s carbon emissions by an estimated 855 tonnes a year. Buildings that are chosen to participate will benefit from cheaper electricity from the solar panels, resulting in substantial savings. Any surplus energy will be sold to the National Grid and profits made by the project will be reinvested locally through a newly-created Community Benefit Fund.
Short video produced by Friends of the Earth Scotland explaining how it works.
Vice Convener of Transport and Environment, Councillor Adam McVey, said:
“This is fantastic news for Edinburgh and will bring long term environmental, social and economic benefits. Community energy co-operatives allow local people to play a part in building a greener, more sustainable environment whilst raising awareness more generally about the importance of being energy efficient. We are aiming to meet our target of reducing Edinburgh’s carbon emissions by 42% by 2020 and this project is an important step towards us achieving this.”
Shares will be offered to organisations or individuals who want to invest in the initiative, with priority allocation given to Edinburgh residents. Anyone interested in becoming members of the Co-op can register their interest via the ECSC’s website.
Members of the Co-op will receive annual interest on their investment (capped at five percent increasing with Retail Price Index), with any surplus profit invested in the Community Benefit fund.
The panels will also be a useful resource for educational projects to help engage pupils with environmental themes such as renewable energy. Each device will come with a real-time display of electricity generation which will be displayed on the buildings and accessible to pupils online.
Dr Richard Dixon, Chair of the ECSC, said:
“The Edinburgh scheme is a winner all round because it will reduce climate emissions and provide cheap energy for schools and other Council buildings. Local people will also get a decent return on any money they choose to invest.”
Work is currently underway to identify suitable sites for the solar panels and the chosen locations will be announced at a later date.
Source: News Release by The City of Edinburgh Council. Video Credit: Friends of Earth Scotland via YouTube. Image Credit: mariusz kluzniak via Flickr.
