Carbon-neutral islands project: progress report

4. 2023/24 Project Implementation

To support early implementation of the Community Climate Change Action Plans, the Scottish Government provided £1 million of capital investment split equally between the six islands. This has led to a wide range of projects some of which have pulled in additional funding from elsewhere to increase their impact. These sit across a number of themes relating to reducing emissions and enhancing community resilience in the face of climate change.

4.1 Transport

Transport was identified as a priority action across the six islands. Projects in this area range from the promotion of active travel through E-bikes and footpath development, bolstering community transport through low carbon vehicles and research into better understanding vehicle use and demand in regards to tourism.

4.1.1 Hoy and Walls - E-bikes Purchase and Deployment

The Island of Hoy Development Trust’s e-bike Project includes the purchase of 10 e-bikes and the refurbishment of an existing bike shed in a prime community location. This project gives the community and visitors access to zero carbon transport on the island.

Outcomes:

• Decreased vehicle traffic.
• Promotes active lifestyles.
• Provides a case for additional bike infrastructure.

4.1.2 Raasay - Path Development

An active travel path is being developed on a section of road between the community hall and school. This path means that those travelling between these two locations – especially children leaving or arriving at the school - can avoid walking directly on the road.

Outcomes:

• Reduced traffic and improved road safety.

4.1.3 Cumbrae - Vehicle Traffic Study

An ongoing two-part study is in the process of being undertaken to learn more about vehicular activity at the island’s slipway across peak and off-peak times. This will help build understanding of traffic levels and the reasons individuals drive on Cumbrae with an aim of reducing vehicular traffic in the future.

Outcomes:

• Understanding of vehicle activities on the island.

4.1.4 Barra - Community Use Electric Vehicles

CNI Barra and Vatersay have purchased two Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life vehicles. This will both enhance the availability and reliability of community transport (especially beneficial for disabled and vulnerable islanders) and reduce emissions generated from transporting island residents.

Outcomes:

• Promoting active travel.
• Reduction in vehicle emissions.

4.1.5 Barra - Pilot E-bike Project

CNI Barra and Vatersay have purchased six Giant Explore +1 e-bikes through Oban Cycles. These bikes are to be used as a pilot e-bike scheme for the island which will help reduce the number of vehicles on the road and promote active travel amongst residents and tourists.

Outcomes:

• Reduced emissions from vehicle travel.
• Improved community transport.

4.2 Local Food Production and Gardening

All of the islands involved in the CNI project have seen initiatives to produce fruit and vegetables locally. Given the challenges and emissions inherent in transporting produce to these islands, this local production provides a means of limiting these emissions whilst enhancing community social spaces and activities through growing programmes.

4.2.1 Hoy and Walls - Community Garden Polycrub Project

A polycrub has been installed in the newly formed Hoy and Walls Community Garden. This will offer a new space for the community to gather and socialise and will also allow islanders to more effectively grow fruit and vegetables, promoting local food production and offering a potential new revenue stream.

Outcomes:

• Lower emissions from food production.
• Move towards a circular economy.

4.2.2 Hoy and Walls - Carbon Neutral Islands Gardening Project

All Islanders have been offered a 100% recycled water butt and ‘Green Johanna’ hot composter free

of charge. 53 households have taken up the offer of a water butt, hot composter or both. This has encouraged home composting, rainwater collection and ultimately will encourage islanders to take part in local food production.

Outcomes:

• Lower emissions from food production.
• Move towards a circular economy.

4.2.3 Raasay - Glasshouse Restoration

Work is being undertaken to restore and improve a nineteenth-century glasshouse in the grounds of Raasay House that has fallen into disrepair in recent years.

This work consists of groundworks and connecting the walled garden to the electrical grid. In addition, a series of growing classes that provide equipment and mentorship through the growing season from propagating to harvest are being undertaken. Collectively the restoration work, alongside these classes will highlight the potential for local food production to the community in addition to developing a new social space.

Outcomes:

• Local production of food.
• Move towards zero waste/a circular economy.

4.2.4 Cumbrae - Improvements to Community and School Outdoor Gardens

Several initiatives have been implemented to develop community gardens, which were established through a collaborative project between the community and school.

Works include the installation of a rainwater harvesting system, a weather station at the school outdoor garden and the acquisition of a portable solar-powered renewable power station replacing a diesel system in the community garden.

Similarly to other examples, improvements to these gardens will build community engagement in local food production.

Outcomes:

• Move towards zero waste and a circular economy.
• Increased knowledge and engagement of climate change impacts on the weather.

4.2.5 Barra and Vatersay - Community Growing Research and Classes

A feasibility study on behalf of CNI Barra and Vatersay was undertaken to research the demand for allotments or shared space to grow food on Barra and on Vatersay, as well as the demand for locally grown food.

Outcomes:

• Local production of food.

4.2.6 Yell - Polycrubs and Growing Areas

Plans have been developed to create five growing areas to be used by the community

for local food production. Each of these will have a polycrub installed on site. The first of these has received planning permission and others are in the process of development. Once complete, these polycrubs will provide a number of new spaces to facilitate and promote local food growth across Yell.

Outcomes:

• Local production of food.
• Move towards a circular economy.

4.3 Domestic Energy Emissions Reduction

Heating - both domesic and non-domestic is one of the biggest sources of emissions Scotland-wide. The CNIs have taken a range of approaches to reducing these emissions, shaped by the distinct local context of each island – from ambitious programmes of large-scale retrofit to pilots of new technologies to inform further development.

4.3.1 Hoy and Walls - Energy Efficiency Technology Pilot

This pilot aims to quantify, measure and record the energy efficiency gains that can realistically be achieved in island properties through the application of energy storage devices, domestic load and prioritisation controls, automatic energy logging equipment and air source heat pumps. This pilot will test these technologies though equipment installations in three properties across the two housing developments - St Colms in Longhope and French Road at Lyness. The knowledge gained from this project will be invaluable in informing the direction of decarbonisation efforts on the island.

Outcomes:

• Installation of zero-emission energy technologies.
• Implementation of energy-efficiency measures.

4.3.2 Raasay - Property Purchase and Retrofit

Raasay Development Trust (RDT) has partnered with CNI, the Scottish Government’s More Homes divisions, Scottish Land Fund, and Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association to retrofit a two-bed terraced property in Inverarish and add it to their affordable housing portfolio. The project is seeking to expand to purchase two further properties. Retrofitting these homes will provide much needed high-quality affordable housing, which is extremely limited on the island.

Outcomes:

• Increased affordable housing stock.
• Installation of energy efficiency measures.
• Reduced fuel poverty.

4.3.3 Raasay - Domestic Energy Efficiency

CNI Raasay, alongside project partners are organising a collective retrofit approach to

improving housing efficiency on Raasay. They are working with the Highland Council’s Climate Change and Energy Team and Home Energy Scotland (HES) to submit a Special Project application under the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficient Scotland: Area-Based Scheme (EES:ABS) to deliver grant funded energy efficiency improvements and whole house retrofits to eligible Raasay properties. This project aims to improve the efficiency of a significant proportion of Raasay’s housing stock hugely reducing emissions across the island. A case study of this project is available at this link.

Outcomes:

• Installation of energy efficiency measures.
• Impacts on fuel poverty.

4.3.4 Cumbrae - Rooftop Solar Survey and Proposal

A study into currently installed rooftop solar PV on Cumbrae is underway, along with a proposal for wider scale rollout outwith the existing conservation area for up to 130 properties. This will reduce emissions across the islands building stock whilst lowering energy bills for residents and businesses.

Outcomes:

• Zero emission energy technology installation.

4.3.5 Cumbrae - In-Home Energy Monitors

In-home energy monitors have been purchased and an installation programme is in progress for buildings across the island. This will build engagement amongst local residents allowing them to monitor and understand their energy usage given that the smart meter rollout has been limited on the island to date.

Outcomes:

• Increased engagement with energy use.

4.3.6 Cumbrae - Distribution of Low Energy Lightbulbs

600 low-energy light bulbs were supplied to the community, incentivising individuals to reduce their emissions and serving as a great engagement touch point to increase understanding of how individuals can take simple steps to reduce their emissions.

Outcomes:

• Installation of energy efficiency measures.
• Increased engagement with energy use.

4.4 Non-Domestic Energy Emissions Reduction

It is crucial that steps are taken to reduce emissions across business and community spaces on each island to ensure that the journey to net zero is as holistic as possible. The projects across this theme range, from focused fabric improvements to enhance the resilience of community spaces, to initiatives to bring local businesses along on the net zero journey.

4.4.1 Raasay - Energy Improvements to Community Hall

A number of energy efficiency improvements have been made to Raasay’s Community Hall, part funded by the CNI project, including:

• Repairs to the ground source heat pump.
• Leaking doors and windows have been replaced with efficient commercial grade doors.
• A solar photovoltaic installation is planned, which has been designed and funded and is awaiting a grid connection.

Outcomes:

• Energy efficiency improvements to a community hub.
• Improvements to a multi-use social space.

4.4.2 Cumbrae - Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificates

Commercial energy performance certificates have been produced for 16 businesses to aid them in understanding and sustainably reducing their energy use.

Outcomes:

• Increased engagement amongst businesses with their energy use.

4.4.3 Cumbrae - Energy and Heating Efficiency and Insulations Measures

Energy efficiency measures and zero carbon heating systems have been installed at four public buildings on the island. These include Millport Bowling Club, Cumbrae Parish Church, Millport Golf Club and the chapel building of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. Improvements include battery storage, solar PV and insultation. The extensive works on these buildings serve as a model for other public buildings seeking to decarbonise – both on the island and further afield. The installer, Green Home Systems, won the Small-Scale Project of the Year award at the Scotland Energy Efficiency Awards for this work.

Outcomes:

• Energy efficiency improvements to a community hub.

4.4.4 Barra - Community Building Energy Efficiency Project

Work has begun to produce investment/development plans to assess the feasibility of energy efficiency and zero carbon technology improvements to three community buildings. This includes installing a small wind turbine, battery storage, and solar installations. These improvements will both reduce emissions from these buildings but also make them warmer and more robust for the benefit of the whole community.

Outcomes:

• Lowered non-domestic building emissions.
• Improved resilience of community spaces.

4.4.5 Barra - Business and Community Building Energy Monitoring

Twelve Smappee Energy Monitors and one Profile Portable Energy Recorder have been purchased for installation. These monitors will allow the local anchor organisation to generate a load profile for each of the buildings participating in the initiative which can provide a baseline for further improvements. This data gathering is invaluable in informing the next steps of the project as the island aims to further decarbonise over the coming years.

Outcomes:

• Increased understanding of energy usage.

4.4.6 Yell - Energy Efficiency Improvements to Cullivoe Galley Shed

Funding was provided to bring a community building – Cullivoe Galley Shed – up to a high standard of insulation. This building provides a comfortable space for the construction of the galley for the island’s Up Helle Ah festival – a long standing Shetland festival which culminates in the burning of galleys across the islands in January.

Outcomes:

• Reduced carbon emissions.
• Improvements to a community space.

4.5 Community Renewable Generation

There are numerous options for local renewable generation on the CNIs. This theme ranges from small-scale micro-generation to ambitious projects utilising renewable energy resources to feed into the grid, consequently providing revenue generation to fund further community projects.

4.5.1 Cumbrae - Energy Infrastructure and Renewables Study

A comprehensive Energy Infrastructure and Renewables Study was conducted for Cumbrae by Community Energy Scotland following a proposal for a significant solar PV array and associated battery storage system on the island which recieved approval upon appeal despite significant local opposition.

This study presents the options, challenges, and barriers to future community renewable energy projects on the island, considering viability from technical, legislative, planning and community benefit perspectives.

4.5.2 Islay - Castlehill Community Solar Array

A proposal was developed to spend the majority of the island’s CNI ‘capital’ budget on a solar project of up to 135kW, utilising existing grid connection for an on-island community-owned wind turbine. The scale of the project, alongside planning challenges and a number of other factors mean that the build is due to begin in late 2024.

When completed, the solar array will produce additional clean energy, which is currently lacking on the island. Revenue will pay into the existing community benefit fund, administered by Islay Energy Community Benefit Society. This fund provides grants for local energy and energy efficiency improvements and general community benefit. Stakeholders are seeking to further understand whether the rehabilitation of the former peat extraction site can lead to wider benefits such as increasing biodiversity.

Outcomes:

• Renewable energy generated on the island.
• Community benefit funds.
• Habitat restoration.
• Study the local co-benefits of solar and peatland restoration.

4.5.3 Raasay - Wood Fuel Processor

CNI Raasay has helped fund a wood processor for the Raasay Development Trust to alleviate workload and improve safety in preparing local wood resources.

Outcomes:

• Safer production of biomass.
• Lower carbon energy compared to other solid fuels.

4.6 Adaptation and Resilience

Scotland’s islands are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. As a result, the CNI project has provided funding for locally-based projects to enhance community resilience in the face of a more variable climate.

4.6.1 Cumbrae - Non-Coastal Flooding Review and Community Flood Defences

A review of responses to past flooding and resilience to future flooding events has been undertaken. Parts of Millport (Cumbrae’s main centre of population) are prone to flooding as seen in December 2023 and, as future flooding events are expected to occur more frequently and severely, this review will highlight areas of potential improvement and help mitigate damage from further events.

Investment was made in reusable flood defence equipment that will remain on the island and be accessible to the local community and emergency services.

Outcomes:

• Increased flooding resilience.

4.6.2 Yell - Resilience Hubs

Seven resilience hubs have been stocked across the island containing essential equipment in the event of a power outage or ferry cancellations – in line with the project’s goal of supporting communities to develop adaptation measures to prevent disruption from the possible impacts of climate change.

Outcomes:

• Community resilience and adaptation.

4.7 Biodiversity and Land Use

It has been long established that island ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to environmental changes. The CNI project has sought to fund initiatives that protect these environments, restore or build biodiversity and increase understanding of each island’s ecosystem and the local marine environment.

4.7.1 Hoy and Walls - Community Tree Planting Scheme

Trees and planting accessories were purchased and provided to several island residents, organisations and businesses. In turn, these individuals or groups will establish small-scale pockets of woodland in their gardens or on privately-owned land. A total of 4,500 trees were distributed to participants across the island.

Outcomes:

• Improving biodiversity and reforestation.

4.7.2 Raasay - Invasive Species Management

This project is aimed at the control of invasive species on Raasay. Aerial drone mapping has been undertaken. This will be followed up by the development of an Invasive Species Management Plan and subsequently the removal of the species, starting in high priority areas. Taking action to remove these invasive species will protect biodiversity on the island.

In addition, CNI Raasay has provided match funding to Raasay House Community Company for the removal of Rhododendron Ponticum, an invasive species, on its land.

Outcomes:

• Protecting biodiversity.
• Improved GHG sequestering.

4.7.3 Cumbrae and Hoy - Land Cover Emmissions Study

A comprehensive analysis of Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) on

Cumbrae and Hoy has been conducted by Aquatera, using hi-res satellite imagery, mapping, and existing land use datasets - building on previous work by Aether in March 2023.

This tool aims to better inform future planning and development decisions. It will enable the calculation of carbon emission impacts resulting from land use change within a specified area, offering a vital tool for sustainable decision-making.

4.7.4 Cumbrae - Blue Carbon Habitat Suitability Study

A project has been undertaken to develop a baseline study for blue carbon in the waters surrounding Cumbrae. The local marine environment has a direct impact on the land ecosystem and carbon emissions of each island and so taking steps to understand this provides an invaluable opportunity to analyse each island’s emissions holistically.

Outcomes:

• Protecting and improving biodiversity.

4.7.5 Barra - CNI Community Tree Planting Project

4,200 trees (80/20 split of Alder and Rowan) were purchased from Alba Trees and issued to 55 participants of the CNI Community Tree Planting Project

Outcomes:

• Improving biodiversity and reforestation.

4.8 The Circular Economy

Moving towards a circular economy is a key step in reducing emissions. This is especially true in the island context where options for disposal of goods/products are often limited and challenging.

4.8.1 Yell - Purchase of Facilities for an On-Island Reuse Centre

Equipment and storage was purchased to facilitate the reuse and recycling of white goods on the island which is undertaken as part of the Men’s Shed activity group. The benefits of this project are twofold: firstly, the men’s group offers opportunities for men to socialise which has been widely praised on the island; secondly by repairing the white goods, the need to transport them off-island for scrappage is mitigated in addition to the reduced emissions from reusing these products.

Outcomes:

• Move towards a circular economy.
• Improvements to a social space and skills development.