This is our vision:

The Westray community aims to develop a sustainable way of life for our future generations by achieving the optimum value from our renewable resources while creating a minimum impact on the local and global environment.

Energy Action Westray aims to use renewable energy to sustain and enhance the quality of life in the island for future generations. The members believe that renewable energy development in Westray offers our community an opportunity to reduce or remove its dependence on fossil fuels by utilizing our own natural resources.

Community and environmental benefits will be added to the significant economic opportunities that will be created through renewable energy development. Doing nothing is not an option.

Through these web pages we will show how we will achieve our vision. Our members can logon to the member pages to pass on and exchange information with each other.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMIT TO THE IDEALS OF ENERGY ACTION WESTRAY, DOWNLOAD THE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM AND MAIL IT TO EAW, WHITE POW, WESTRAY, ORKNEY, KW17 2DR

Energy Action Westray form new co-operative for the benefit of society

11/01/2012

Energy Action Westray are one of the founder directors of a new co-operative in Orkney to carry out a similar social purpose to that of Energy Action Westray. The co-operative will take on the name of Care4Energy tto reflect the original work of Energy Action Westray in gettitng it established and helping it to grow. The co-operative will work to eradicate fuel poverty across the community of Orkney and will also look to reduce impact on climate change whilst carry out its main purpose. The governance of the co-operative is being looked at to ensure that the key stakeholders in Orkney are all represented with the first board meeting scheduled for February this year. If you would like any further information please get in touch with one of the founder board members Colin Risbridger at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

CARES update

11/11/2011

Energy Action Westray have also submitted a screening opinion to the council on the potential site for a wind turbine at Berriedale in Westray to make use of the CARES loan and widen the benefits it can offer and anticipate a response in early January.

Energy Action Westray offered sustainable energy loan

05/10/2011

Nearly £4 million of loans to help communities across Scotland develop locally-owned renewable energy projects were announced today by Energy Minister Fergus Ewing.

In addition to Energy Action Westray the list includes a Borders housing association which will use the proceeds to improve the houses it offers for rent, a Highland charity which will become more financially sustainable thanks to a hydro scheme and two Edinburgh community groups who wish to erect a wind turbine at a sewerage works are among the recipients, as well as communities all over Scotland.

The loans, offered through the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), will help with the pre-planning costs of 42 renewable energy projects. The locally-owned projects will produce 56 Megawatts (MW) of wind and hydro capacity and make a contribution to the Scottish Government's target of 500MW of community and locally-owned renewable energy by 2020.

Of the 42 projects, 29 are community-owned, one is owned by a rural business and the remaining 12 have been brought forward by farmers. All have made commitments to benefit the local community.

The loans total £3.909 million, and will support 32 wind turbine projects, nine hydro schemes, and one anaerobic digestion plant. The loan scheme replaces a previous grant scheme.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said:

"These projects will not only help us meet our ambitious target of generating the equivalent of all Scotland's electricity needs to come from renewables by 2020, but also benefit their local communities.

"Scotland is already leading the way in the UK, helping communities across the country own their own energy projects, and to benefit from them - last year alone, CARES grants benefited more than 300 projects across Scotland

"We want every community in Scotland to share in the rewards of the green energy revolution, and the CARES loans are a practical way to make that happen.

"All profits from the community-run schemes will remain with the communities, and all the schemes run by local businesses have committed to give at least 20 per cent of their profits back to the local communities, ensuring the benefits of Scotland's natural resources are shared with everyone, as well as the jobs and opportunities the schemes will create.

"As the payments are all loans, they will empower not just these communities to develop experience and expertise, but countless more as the money is paid back and lent out again and again."

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead added:

"Farmers understand the benefits to be gained from renewables, but have told me they are put off pursuing schemes by the expense of reaching the pre-planning stage. These loans help farmers and land managers overcome that hurdle and take up the opportunities offered by renewables.

"The renewables revolution offers our farmers and land-based industries the chance to cut energy costs, generate new income and contribute to our low carbon future. I'm delighted farms are now taking up this chance with the support of the CARES scheme and urge all land managers to seize this opportunity to benefit from nature, assist their communities and help Scotland maximise its potential from the renewable energy revolution."

One farmer who has applied successfully to the Scottish Government CARES Loan scheme is Craig Mitchell of Hallcroft Farms near Saline, in Fife.

Mr Mitchell said, "The CARES loan scheme is absolutely essential to progress our idea for two 1.5MW turbines at West Craighouse. The local community council has recently completed a Community Action Plan for projects that matter most to local people. We are consulting with them at an early stage in the hope that the electricity generated by the wind turbines will eventually provide an invaluable source of funding for these local projects and everybody here can enjoy a lasting benefit from green energy generation in the community."

Loans awarded by Local Authority Area

• Aberdeenshire
  Braemar Community Limited - 59,000 pounds for 0.05MW hydro project Formartine Partnership - 138,000 pounds for 1.5MW wind project Fraserburgh Development Trust - 137,000 pounds for 0.8MW wind project Huntly Development Trust - 150,000 pounds for 1.75MW wind project J&WF Lind - 150,000 pounds for a 0.33MW wind project James B Presly & Co - 150,000 pounds for 2.3MW wind project R Cumming and Son - 135,000 pounds for 0.8MW wind project
• Angus
  R&N Cessford - £65,000 for 0.33MW wind project
• Argyll & Bute
  Ascog Farm - £95,000 for 1.5MW wind project Kilfinan Community Forest Co - £146,000 for 5MW wind project Jura Development Trust - £30,000 for 0.1MW wind project
• City of Edinburgh
  Balerno Village Trust Ltd - £20,000 for 0.065MW hydro project Greener Leith - £118,000 for 1MW wind project
• Dumfries and Galloway
  Barony College - £135,000 for 0.5MW anaerobic digestion project AH&HA Brown - £81,000 for 1.6MW wind project
• East Ayrshire
  L Borthwick and Sons - £82,000 for 0.85MW wind project
• East Lothian
  Berwickshire Housing Association - £124,000 for a 5MW wind project Dunbar Community Energy Co - £66,000 for a 0.3MW wind project
• Fife
  Crail Community Trust - £75,000 for 0.25MW wind project The Ecology Centre - £100,000 for 5MW wind project Halcroft Farms - £125,000 for 3.5MW wind project Kingdom Housing Association - £83,000 for 0.8MW wind project St Monans Community Trust - £44,000 for a 0.225MW wind project
• Highland
  Arthur W Simmers - £150,000 for 4.6MW wind project Charles A Simmers - £150,000 for a 4.6MW wind project Coigach Community Development Company - £150,000 for 0.9MW wind project Coinpeg - £56,000 for 0.1MW hydro project Scottish Wildlife Trust - £150,000 for 0.3MW hydro project
• Nan Eilean Siar
  Barra & Vatersay Wind Energy Ltd - £109,000 for a 0.9MW wind project
• Orkney
  Energy Action Westray - £96,000 for 0.5MW wind project
• Perth and Kinross
  Glendevon Energy - £149,000 for 0.75MW hydro project
• Scottish Borders
  Selkirk Regeneration Company - £140,000 for 2MW wind project
• Stirling
  Callander Community Hydro Ltd - £82,000 for a 0.24MW hydro project Thornhill Community Trust - £14,000 for a 0.5MW wind project
• South Lanarkshire
  A&J Allison - £27,000 for a 0.8MW wind project Castlemilk & Carmunnock Windpark Trust - £110,000 for a 3MW wind project TC Stewart & Sons - £114,000 for a 4MW wind project

CARES is a new scheme to support the development of community and locally-owned renewable energy projects which provide wider community benefits.Loans are repaid in full, with 10% interest rate, when the finance for the capital construction stage is finalised. Where the project is not owned by the community there is a binding legal agreement on community benefit of at least 20 per cent of the net profit before tax in the loan agreement. Eligible organisations are constituted non-profit distributing community groups, constituted local community groups in partnership with other businesses or organisations including social enterprises, and farmers, land managers, rural small and medium enterprises and profit-distributing cooperatives.

The next stage for the Energy Action Westray board is to carry out some community consultation and also seek a screening opinion from the local authority on the preferred site to connect in at Gill Pier and build on the previous feaibility work carried out whilst looking at the proposed district heating scheme.

Energy Action Westray are always happy to hear from any landowners with alternative sites and have already been working to support many in the Westray community with renewable energy projects.

23rd June - AGM

The AGM has been planned for the 23rd June at 7pm at the Kirk. If you would like to attend please complete a membership application form and send it to us. We have also published our newsletter.

28th March - Powerdown etc

The Powerdown project has come to an end and we were unsuccessful in securing additional funding from the Scottish Climate Challenge Fund to continue wiht the project. The board are currently working on possibilities moving forward. The Energy Efficiency Design Awarrds project - Westray Wind Warmer continues with 2 heat pumps installed, energy efficiency measures being installed and the foundations in for the Proven 6kW wind turbines. The North Eden project at South Hammer also continues at pace with the areas for the second and third poly tunnels dug out and bore holes in for the heat pumps and water supply. Both projects will be fully completed by the end of May.

19th August - Westray Junior High

Meeting with potential participant households in Pierowall about joining the Energy Efficiency Design Awards project.

5th August - Westray Junior High

EGM to change Mem & Arts to enable purchase of South Hammer.

8th July 8pm at the Old Kirk - Climate Change Event

An evening event on the issue of Climate Change with speakers from the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Cplan to disucss the issue of climate change and how the island can mitigate the potential effects.

July - Home Insulation Scheme

Energy Action Westray has successfully secured a contract from Changeworks Resources for Life Ltd to delvier the Home Insulation Scheme surveys in Westray and Papa Westray. Stevie Harcus is away on three weeks training and will visit every home on the island to provide energy advice and assess eligibility for assistance. Any household with more than 60mm of loft insulation will be elgibile for a free top up to 270mm of insulation installed by contractors Insta Fibre.

July - Homebase Eon DIY insulation offer

Energy Action Westray have successfully negotiated with Eon and Homebase a promotional offer to provide free insulation to households with less than 60mm existing. 69 of the 240 households took up the offer and collected thier insulation from the Floss on the 30th June, 3rd July and 7th July. More details will follow.

June 8th - Energy Efficiency Design Awards Final

Energy Action Westray have successfully made it through to the final of the 2010 awards and Powerdown Worker Meghan McEwen attended to give a presentation on the proposed Energy Services Company (ESCO) project using small scale wind energy to supply storage heating and heat pumps in fuel poor households. The decision of the judges was announced and Energy Action Westray have been successful.

This is one of many projects under the Powerdown banner with others including the Community Garden and local advice/education centre at South Hammer; the National Home Energy Rating survey programme in partnership with Westray Development Trust and the Energy Saving Scotland advice centre; the renewable energy bulk discount scheme and community consultation.

June 7th - Transport Event

Energy Saving Scotland advice centre transport specialist Gregor Yule attended an event held under Powerdown on sustainable transport. He provided demonstrations on the eco driving simulator.

June - Energy Action Westray AGM and new Mem & Arts

Energy Action Westray held a successful AGM along with the first in a series of Powerdown public consultation events; the first was on local food production and the second followed shortly thereafter on transport with Energy Saving Trust Transport specialist Gregor Yule.

Minutes of the AGM; New Mem & Arts

April 6th - Energy Action Westray Community Garden

EAW is delighted with the latest announcement that its application for funding a community garden through the Climate Challenge Fund has been awarded. DOWNLOAD PDF HERE