Local Energy Plan for Barra and Vatersay July 2018 A Local Energy Plan for Barra and Vatersay July 2018 This Local Energy Plan has been developed to enable the community to look at its existing and future energy needs in terms of power, heat and transport and determine where it sees priorities for action. A separate non‐technical summary document is also available that provides an overview of the plan. The development of the plan has been led by a steering group that includes representatives from the Voluntary Action Barra & Vatersay, Coimhearsnachd Bharraidh agus Bhatarsaidh (Barra & Vatersay Community) Ltd, Castlebay & Vatersay Community Council, Northbay Community Council, Hebridean Housing Partnership, Barratlantic Ltd, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Local Energy Scotland, Home Energy Scotland and Community Energy Scotland. The development of the plan has been funded as part of the COBEN project (COmmunity BENefits of Civic Energy), an EU Interreg (North Sea Region) funded programme with fifty per cent match funding through the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES). CARES is delivered by Local Energy Scotland. Technical support and plan development has been undertaken by Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions UK Limited. Community consultation support has been provided by Community Energy Scotland. Contents 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 What is a Local Energy Plan?................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Barra & Vatersay and its Local Energy System ........................................................................ 1 1.3 Overview of ‘whole system’ approach .................................................................................... 2 1.4 Aims and objectives ................................................................................................................ 3 2. Local Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Electricity ................................................................................................................................. 4 2.1.1 Existing Local Generation ................................................................................................ 5 2.2 Heat ......................................................................................................................................... 5 2.3 Water ...................................................................................................................................... 6 2.4 Transport ................................................................................................................................. 6 2.4.1 Road ................................................................................................................................ 6 2.4.2 Ferry ................................................................................................................................ 6 2.4.3 Air .................................................................................................................................... 7 3. Characterisation of local area ......................................................................................................... 7 3.1 Population of Barra and Vatersay ........................................................................................... 7 3.2 Employment and journey to work .......................................................................................... 9 3.3 Residential ............................................................................................................................. 11 3.3.1 Residential overview ..................................................................................................... 12 3.3.2 Estimate of fuel poverty levels ...................................................................................... 12 3.4 Non‐residential ..................................................................................................................... 14 3.4.1 Local Authority .............................................................................................................. 14 3.4.2 NHS Western Isles ......................................................................................................... 14 3.4.3 Barratlantic .................................................................................................................... 14 3.4.4 Other Non‐domestic users ............................................................................................ 14 3.5 Transport ............................................................................................................................... 14 3.5.1 Gas oil ............................................................................................................................ 15 3.5.2 Petrol/Diesel ................................................................................................................. 15 3.5.3 Bus vehicle fuel ............................................................................................................. 15 3.5.4 Household vehicles ....................................................................................................... 15 3.5.5 Electric vehicles ............................................................................................................. 16 3.6 Environment .......................................................................................................................... 16 3.6.1 Summary of environmental designations ..................................................................... 17 3.6.2 Cultural heritage designations ...................................................................................... 17 3.6.3 Estimated solar resource .............................................................................................. 18 3.6.4 Estimated wind resource .............................................................................................. 19 3.6.5 Estimated hydro resource ............................................................................................. 19 4. Energy Baseline ............................................................................................................................. 20 5. Options Appraisal .......................................................................................................................... 21 5.1 Scottish context .................................................................................................................... 21 5.2 Local context ......................................................................................................................... 22 5.2.1 Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan ...................................................................... 22 5.2.2 Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership ....................................................... 23 5.2.3 Outer Hebrides Fuel Poverty Strategy (2015 – 2025) ................................................... 24 5.2.4 Sustainable Energy Action Plan ..................................................................................... 24 5.3 Community commentary on areas of action ........................................................................ 24 5.4 High level technology review ................................................................................................ 26 6. Review of local options ................................................................................................................. 28 6.1 Energy infrastructure ............................................................................................................ 28 Proposed Action Point #1 ............................................................................................................. 28 Proposed Action Point #2 ............................................................................................................. 28 6.2 Energy Saving Measures and Educational Framework ......................................................... 29 6.2.1 Energy Efficiency Awareness and Support .................................................................... 29 Proposed Action Point #3 ............................................................................................................. 30 Proposed Action Point #4 ............................................................................................................. 30 6.2.2 Energy tariffs and market switching ............................................................................. 30 Proposed Action Point #5 ............................................................................................................. 30 Proposed Action Point #6 ............................................................................................................. 31 6.2.3 Promotion of energy efficiency ..................................................................................... 31 6.2.4 Water use and energy efficiency .................................................................................. 31 Proposed Action Point #7 ............................................................................................................. 31 6.3 Energy efficiency measures