Off-grid, remote community appoints Reheat to deliver low carbon heating for key tourism hub, boosting the island’s sustainable way of life
- Two 60kW biomass boilers provide reliable heat to a vital community hub for islanders and tourists, in-keeping with the Isle of Eigg’s sustainability goals
- Biomass heating system design, specification and installation undertaken by Reheat
- Forestry consultancy provided on best use of the island’s conifer plantation to provide a fully sustainable heating system
- Operational teams undertake succesful installation despite challenging logistics to and from the island
The Isle of Eigg, one of the Inner Hebrides, has built an internationally recognised reputation as a prime example of what a society run entirely on renewable energy could look like. After decades of the islanders using diesel generators, only run at night, the community took action to transition away from this expensive, inconvenient and environmentally unfriendly means of generating energy.
As a result, Eigg Electric was established as a community owned company, providing off-grid electricity for all island residents. Launched in 2008, the grid now provides the community with reliable 24-hour electricity, fed by a mix of wind turbines, solar PV and hydro energy.
With the Isle of Eigg’s visitor numbers reported to have doubled since 1998, its tourism sector remains vital to supporting the local economy. A recent upgrade to Eigg’s tourism infrastructure is the An Laimhrig (Gaelic for ‘anchorage’ or ‘safe haven’) redevelopment – a community building where islanders and visitors come together. To ensure the redevelopment was in-keeping with the island’s sustainable energy ethos, Reheat was appointed to provide heat consultancy and a full design, specification and installation of an appropriate biomass heating system for its multiple buildings.
One of the major advantages to biomass is the island’s access to its conifer plantation. Reheat advised on using the plantation and undertook an extensive options appraisal to consider wood chip or log as a local fuel source. Log was considered a better option, providing the community with a fully sustainable means for sourcing its biomass heat supply, particularly as it avoids imports.
The heating system design and specification was then undertaken by Reheat, with two 60kW biomass boilers installed. This included logistical challenges with materials and Reheat’s operational team being transferred to and from the mainland by the supply vessel, ‘Spanish John’.
The successfully installed biomass heating system now supplies reliable and sustainable heat for the An Laimhrig building, including the wash house (‘Taigh Nighe’) that caters for campers, day visitors and guests with shower and washing facilities.
