Community energy pilot secures funding for second year

Blueprint could be rolled out for similar rural communities

A second year of funding has been confirmed for a project designed to give a Stirlingshire village energy self-sufficiency.

It is hoped that the Scottish Government-funded Smart Fintry project, which was allocated a total of £841,523 of support over two years, will establish a blueprint for other communities to make better use of local renewable energy resources.

The Smart Fintry project combines smart metering with an advanced switching platform to enable residents to purchase energy directly from local renewables firms. Energy is distributed via the existing grid infrastructure.

The project was the first of its kind in the UK, according to project partners including Fintry Development Trust, Energy Assets, Heriot Watt University, and independent supplier Good Energy.

During the project’s first year, 30 per cent of residents signed up to the scheme and, according to Good Energy, were able to save up to a fifth on their electricity bills.

As much of the power is generated by local wind turbines and an anaerobic digestion plant, it also helped to reduce carbon emissions by 25 per cent.

“The households taking part have already switched to a special renewable electricity tariff with Good Energy and have new meters installed to keep track of their energy use,” said local resident and Co-founder of the Fintry Development Trust, Gordon Cowtan.

For the project’s second year, a demand-side management proposal has been put forward. It aims to improve demand management for existing appliances to make more efficient use of energy and reduce costs. Consumer benefits will also be supported through the launch of an online portal which will further assist customers in reducing their energy consumption.

In year two, Smart Fintry will also install a heat pump to service the community’s heat-related energy demand.

Will Vooght, head of research and innovation at Good Energy said: “As well as more control over their energy use, Smart Fintry participants have the added benefit of being supplied by 100 per cent renewable electricity – much of it from local sources.”

The project earned Good Energy a shortlist position for the Utility Week Stars Awards 2017.