Assynt Foundation - Renewable Energy Proposals News Update

A POSSIBLE COMMUNITY-OWNED RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT IN ASSYNT.

There is a desire within the Assynt Foundation to make efforts towards reducing climate change, increasing sustainability, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and helping to meet national renewable energy targets. These considerations have been fundamental in the Assynt Foundation’s decisions to investigate the possibilities for a community-owned renewable energy project.
There is also a very strong desire to explore possibilities for creating income streams for the Assynt area. These could help finance various community projects as well as helping the Assynt Foundation cover its future costs. Although grants are available for some projects, the aim of the AF is to do all we can to reduce this reliance on grants.

The Assynt Foundation looked at options for a community-owned renewable energy project somewhere on the community-owned estates of Glencanisp and Drumrunie which are the area managed for the community by the Assynt Foundation.

Hydro-electricity options had been found to be unviable due to lack of access to possible locations.

A feasibility study was requested and produced by West Coast Energy to look at options for wind power on the Assynt Foundation's estates.
This recommended that further project development work be focused on the Druim Suardalain area of the Glencanisp Estate. This was largely due to this area's proximity to the 33kV grid connection, and its proximity to existing development in Lochinver.

From executive summary: ‘The Druim Suardalain ridge is identified as the optimum location taking account of ecology, landscape, access, grid connection, amenity and viability.’

These investigations, looking specifically at wind turbines in the Glencanisp estate, have now been put on hold.

Following discussions with other groups in Assynt, it has been decided that a wider, Assynt-wide, search will now be undertaken.
This wider search, conducted by the Assynt Foundation in conjunction with various other local groups and individuals, will look into the options for community-owned renewable energy throughout the whole of Assynt, rather than just on the Assynt Foundation's estates. The options that will now be explored could include off-shore wind turbines, tidal power, and on-shore wind turbines elsewhere in Assynt, along with any other options that may come to light.
Only in the unlikely case that no better option for a community-owned energy project is then found, will the investigation of wind turbines in Glencanisp then be re-opened, and only then following a community ballot.

A community-owned renewable energy project proposal will only go ahead if it has the support of the substantial majority of the community, as assessed by an independently-run secret ballot. This will require full information being available to the community with which to make a decision for or against a proposal.

The statement made by Mark Lazzeri, development manager of the Assynt Foundation, in the public meeting at Lochinver Village Hall on 3rd July 07, was as follows:

"I would like to clarify the Assynt Foundation position:

There is no current work in progress on any wind turbine proposal. The wind turbine proposal as detailed in the executive summary of the feasibility study has been put in the deep freeze and it will remain so whilst all alternatives within the Assynt Area are thoroughly investigated, including all appropriate technologies.

Such investigations will involve all interested parties and will seek to create a Community owned renewable energy project whose aims will be to provide benefit for the whole community which will include securing funding for the Assynt Foundation into the future.

In the unlikely event of no suitable alternatives being found, the original proposal will only be re-visited after a full community debate and ballot."

The AF are urging more people from the community join the AF’s renewables subgroup. (Membership of AF is not a requirement for joining the subgroup.)

Any further questions please ask. Phone: 01571 844100 or email Assynt Foundation