News / More than £130k awarded for Fair Isle Bird Observatory solar array
TWO island projects are set to benefit from a share of a £1.5 million Scottish Government funding pot.
Fair Isle Electricity Company has been awarded £137,361 to build a solar array on the ground, which will be used to power the new Fair Isle Bird Observatory.
The money will go towards both the equipment and the installation costs.
Bressay Development Ltd will receive £10,000 for feasibility work into whether solar panels and associated battery storage can be built on a site in the island.
The Scottish Government has awarded the money to projects across Scotland that focus on renewable energy in communities.
A total of 19 groups across the Hebrides, Shetland and Arran will be among those to benefit from the Community Energy Generation Growth Fund.
The organisations will also be able to earn money from their projects by selling the excess energy generated back to the grid, the Scottish Government said.
Acting climate action minister Alasdair Allan said the government was pleased to see so many locally owned projects, particularly those in island communities, benefit from the funding.
“We are fully committed to ensuring that all areas of Scotland are able to thrive and contribute to a growing sustainable economy and renewable projects like these will help reduce energy costs, generate revenue and help drive Scotland’s transition to net zero,” he said.
“It is crucial that communities are at the heart of Scotland’s ambition to become a renewable energy powerhouse – and this fund helps to ensure that they can lead and benefit from this era defining transition.”
Meanwhile the progress on the new Fair Isle Bird Observatory was discussed at a meeting of Shetland Islands Council’s development committee on Wednesday.
The council’s economic development manager Tommy Coutts said funding is still required for the completion of the new build, which is now wind and watertight.
He said both the SIC and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have been working together on a funding package, which could include both internal and external grants.
Coutts said this required funding package is “considerable”, but added that it should be realised if applications for external funding are successful.
The project to rebuild the bird observatory, following 2019’s fire, has already secured significant funding from a range of sources including both the UK and Scottish governments as well as Shetland Islands Council-administered Coastal Communities Fund.
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