Islay Energy Trust

A lovely surprise to get up this morning and find these great photos from Teresa Morris of Islay Wildscapes, who happened to be on the spot when our remaining components arriving yesterday evening.

http://islaywildscapes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/islay-community-wind-turbine-arrives-at.html

Thanks Teresa for allowing us to share this! I will be out on site later today – it’s a bit breezy but we hope construction will be able to get under way.

..or at least part of it is – the nacelle and generator arrived today, the tower sections will follow tomorrow. Fingers crossed for some more calm weather!

Work has been progreesing well at the turbine site, with three Islay contractors and mainland firm RJ MacLeod all on site last week preparing the turbine foundation. The next step will be the concrete pour, scheduled for this Thursday.

Four years ago IET didn’t think they would be able to find a suitable site for a Community Wind Turbine, until Scottish Natural Heritage offered one near Glenegedale. As with previous possibilities, this too initially seemed doubtful, because Islay airport was only about four kilometres away, but this turned out not to be a major problem, and the only request from Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, the operators of the airport, has been to “Please put a red light on top of the turbine!”.

There have of course been numerous hurdles along the way, but that was the turning point which was ultimately to lead to the formation of Islay Energy Community Benefit Society, and the remarkable community response which saw £535,000 raised through the community share offer, 80% from local investors. Now we are beginning at last to see progress on the ground, with the initial civils work completed, and the site ready for Enercon to come and prepare the foundation for the turbine during August. A large area of hardstanding has been created, and a crane pad constructed to accommodate the heavy lifting gear which will raise the turbine components into place. The area for the substation foundation has been concreted and the road widened in places to accommodate the delivery vehicles. Despite some early delays due to legal technicalities, the project is still on schedule for installation during October, and commissioning in November.

Early and ongoing support from Community Energy Scotland, coupled with the technical expertise of Dr Colin Anderson who has acted as technical consultant throughout and is now Project Manager for the construction phase, have been invaluable in this project. Without the support of our investors, however, we would not be at this stage – thanks everyone.

Lindy MacLellan, Project Development Officer, August 2014

Welcoming the announcement by The Crown Estate (TCE) that it has awarded a Tidal Demonstration Zone to the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) working jointly with the Islay Energy Trust (IET), Philip Maxwell, Chairman of Islay Energy Trust said:  “Local involvement in the development of local assets is critically important for island communities. We are very keen to be at the forefront of marine renewables development and the economic opportunities it offers.  The consortium approach allows us to play a key role in developing the area sympathetically, taking account of other local interests through comprehensive local consultation.”
The tidal demonstration zone is off the west of Islay and adjacent to the zone currently being developed by DP Energy.
Being awarded rights to an area of seabed by TCE means that IET and EMEC will, in due course, become Third Party Manager (TPM) of the site and so be able to manage and develop the seabed and sub-let areas of seabed for developers to pursue tidal projects.

The Crown Estate Press Release

EMEC Press Release

IET welcomes the further progress in the Sound of Islay project by the request to Scottish Ministers that amended consent for the development be deemed to be granted.

Scottish Power Renewables (SPR) recently applied to Scottish Ministers for consent to construct an offshore demonstration tidal energy array in the Sound of Islay and associated onshore generating station with an installed capacity of 10 MW.  The purpose of this application is to amend the consent awarded to SPR by Scottish Ministers in March 2011 and requests that planning permission for the associated onshore development is deemed to be granted.

A copy of the application and related documentation is available for inspection in the IET offices and at the Argyll and Bute Council offices on Jamieson Street in Bowmore.

Anyone wishing to make representations regarding this application should do so by email to sprislay2@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or by post to The Scottish Government, Marine Scotland Licensing Operations Team, Marine Laboratory, 375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB11 9DB.