The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Island harnesses Atlantic gales to generate power
Renewables: Reliance on diesel generators over
Positioned 23 miles out into the Atlantic, residents on Canna are not short of wind.
In fact, gales often cancel their ferry for days on end or keep them housebound.
But now, the 18 islanders are living the green dream due to the gales. They have started receiving their power through renewable sources from a £1.3million scheme built in the most challenging of locations.
Islanders raised the cash for the green energy system based mainly around wind, as well as solar and better battery storage.
The island – and neighbouring Sanday, which is joined by a road – are not connected to the national grid and previously used three diesel engines to produce power.
But the renewable sources will now provide more than 90% of what is needed – and hopefully 100%.
The scheme is centred on six wind turbines, and a photovoltaic array, which together are capable of generating 60kW of electricity.
Lifelong resident Winnie Mackinnon, 56, said: “You can boil a kettle and run a Hoover at the same time without any worry.
“We don’t have e l e c t r i c c o o k e r s on the island, so they do not eat up the power.
“It is not any cheaper currently than the old system, but will probably be in the future, especially when compared to the expected future rises in diesel.
“The maintenance costs are less and it is giving reliable 24-hour electricity and is cleaner for the environment.”
Canna Renewable Energy and Electrification Ltd (Creel) director Geraldine MacKinnon said: “It has been a long-standing ambition for our community.
“The island is exposed to the full force of Atlantic gales and we can finally put that to good use.
“As well as reducing the noise and pollution from the generators, the new scheme will give us the capacity to build additional houses here.”
Creel will own and operate the equipment, putting any profits back into the running of the system.
Funding was secured from the Big Lottery Fund, the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme, SSE Highland Sustainable Development Fund, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the National Trust for Scotland.