15/05/2026
Greater Energy Independence for Grinneabhat
Grinneabhat, the local community hub for Bragar and Arnol based in Bragar’s old primary school, has recently had an array of solar panels and battery storage installed with support from the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) Community Buildings Fund.
As energy costs have risen dramatically in recent years, the project was needed to help ease financial pressures on the organisation. Now it is up and running, it will allow the money saved to be allocated to community needs rather than being spent on energy bills.
The installation comprises of an array of 48 solar photovoltaic panels and two battery storage units. The layout was designed and installed by O’Mac Construction Ltd, MCS-certified island contractors, who are experienced with renewables for community organisations. The new panels and batteries give Grinneabhat greater energy independence at a time when multiple global crises are putting pressure on ordinary people and small organisations alike, and there is an appetite for community-owned energy.
With 80% of the funding coming from CARES, additional funding was needed and this was provided by Horshader Community Development Trust, St James’ Place, and Western Isles Development Trust.
Christine Macleod, Chair of the Board of Trustees for Urras Coimhearsnachd Bhràdhagair agus Àrnoil, who manage Grinneabhat, said: “It is encouraging to see the savings that we have already been able to make, despite the weather.
“We’re grateful to all the funders, and particularly Isla Vandevoorde, development officer from Local Energy Scotland, who supported us throughout the process from initial advice to completion. We’re also thankful to O’Mac whose team managed to complete the installation within a tight timeframe and in winter weather. It has been a great example of local resilience and community organisations supporting each other.”
With the daylight hours getting longer, Grinneabhat will be protected from more economic shocks in the coming months, and less dependent in the years ahead on volatile energy markets: Good news for the community, and good for the planet, too.
The Community Buildings Fund is open to applications again and Local Energy Scotland would be pleased to see more projects coming through. If other community organisations are interested in finding out more information, they can contact Isla by email: [email protected], or look at their website: https://localenergy.scot/funding/
O'Mac Construction Limited Horshader Community Development CARES at Local Energy Scotland
