CommonWatt – door opens to community energy

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We’re delighted that a bid led by WLCAN to the Community Energy Generation Growth fund has been successful. WLCAN led the bid for funding to explore feasibility for a number of sites across south-east Scotland, and six will now be studied for potential development. These are among a pipeline of over 40 sites that could bring renewable energy generation into the heart of communities, giving them ownership of their own energy sources, and investing surplus earnings back into the area.

WLCAN shares in £20,000 with two other climate hubs for technical assessment of six initial sites. The CommonWatt application includes East Lothian and Midlothian Climate Hubs. Each hub area will have two sites assessed; in West Lothian these will be the Xcite leisure facilities in Linlithgow and Bathgate. It is hoped larger sites, when developed, will form a template for smaller ones.

The bid was led by Neil Barnes. The announcement came as Neil finishes up as Senior Development Worker with WLCAN, with him being offered an exciting opportunity with the Verdancy Group/FEDCAP in the green skills sector. Neil will continue to offer his experience in developing community energy, adding: “I’ll still be volunteering locally for Linlith-Go-Solar/Linlithgow CDT and want to continue to contribute some of my free time to the emerging CommonWatt community energy initiative. We have embarked upon this collective initiative with the other SE Scotland climate hubs and Lothians in particular. We have a growing joint pipeline of some 43 sites. The stars are aligning for a brighter future for community-owned energy.”

Jocelyn Lockhart will now be moving into the role of Senior Development Worker. The team and board are looking forward to working with the external consultant on the funded feasibility studies.

The Community Energy Generation Growth Fund is administered by the Scottish Government’s CARES. Read more about the £5.5 million worth of awards to development community energy across Scotland here.

CommonWatt’s joint announcement is here.