Lower energy costs and a greener future for Scilly residents – thanks to more than £200,000 grant

“Without the Good Growth Programme this wouldn’t be possible…”– George Goldberg, Executive Director of the Isles of Scilly Community Venture.

Isles of Scilly has the highest energy costs for households in any local authority, according to Isles of Scilly Community Venture’s Executive.

Isles of Scilly Community Venture CIC’s Energy Network project, which allows Scilly’s residents to directly buy locally generated renewable energy through their electricity bill, has been awarded £208,538. This money has also helped create an energy clinic, create a job, secure a job, and more.

George Goldberg, the CIC’s Executive Director, says: “The Isles of Scilly is 30 miles from the mainland. We have a great deal of dependence on electricity here as a fuel source. Any other fuel source has to be shipped in, which results in us having the highest energy costs for households in any local authority area.”

He says this project addresses those costs for the community, whilst being mindful of long-term sustainability and energy security.  The CIC has a number of plans including inviting people to have domestic smart meters and provide an energy clinic service to support local residents understand their bills, deal with supplier issues and find ways to reduce energy costs.

George explains: “The energy clinic is about helping people on the islands with getting smart metres if they want them.

“The medium-term goal is the creation of a local energy network, allowing people to directly buy solar energy from this site and others around the islands when the sun is shining. When that energy is available it will be at a massive discount compared to the normal rate they pay.

“The longer-term piece is, are there places we could have a little bit more renewable electricity generation on the islands so that more people can get the benefit of those lower energy costs?

“Without the Good Growth Programme this wouldn’t be possible, and that investment is being used to staff the project, deliver the energy clinic and project manage what we’re doing.”

Isles of Scilly Community Venture CIC is made possible thanks to investment from the Good Growth Programme, funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.