DoomsdaysCW<p>More of this, please...!</p><p>The Isle of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Eigg" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Eigg</span></a>: The <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/communityowned" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>communityowned</span></a> island that powers itself</p><p>By Hugh Tucker<br>31st October 2023</p><p>"Eigg is one of a collection of islands in the Scottish Inner Hebrides called the Small Isles. It lies 15 miles from the mainland and is reliant on a ferry that runs a few times a week, weather dependent, for supplies and transport. As such, waste isn't an option here and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/sustainability" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sustainability</span></a> is a necessity.</p><p>"'Sustainability has always been a part of island and crofting life here,' explained Norah Barnes, Scottish Wildlife Trust ranger on Eigg. 'You're a bit more aware of what you're using. You can't just go to a shop down the road to get something. Everything that we want, we literally have to lift off the boat.'</p><p>"Combined, the Small Isles of Eigg, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Canna" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Canna</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Sanday" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Sanday</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/R%C3%B9m" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Rùm</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Muck" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Muck</span></a> have a population of just 150-200 people. Measuring five miles by three, Eigg is the second largest in size but by far the most populous with around 110 residents, and this has helped to foster a community that has collectively been able to take charge of the future of the island.</p><p>"Launched in 2008, Eigg was the world's first community to launch an <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/offgrid" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>offgrid</span></a> electric system powered by <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/wind" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>wind</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/water" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>water</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/solar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>solar</span></a>. The three systems complement each other so that almost any <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/weather" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>weather</span></a> condition is conducive to producing electricity. To ensure supply, there are still backup generators, but the overwhelming majority comes from <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/renewable" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>renewable</span></a> sources. 'How much <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/renewables" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>renewables</span></a> we use varies depending on the weather, but we've done as much as 90%,' Fyffe explained.</p><p>"The benefits of the new renewable system have been numerous. Before, the island was reliant on diesel generators, which Barnes explained was a logistical headache. 'You had to get the diesel shipped over, decant it into barrels, get the barrels to your house and fill up your generator. It was a massive job. Using renewable energy has improved things a lot for people's daily lives as well as the environment.'</p><p>"It's also a step towards self-sufficiency, and, with the global energy crisis pushing prices up around the world, Fyffe described how it's helped protect the island from the increased cost of living. 'To begin with, our unit charge was higher than the mainland, but we're probably cheaper now. We put it up slightly from time to time, but we haven't done this the last couple of years as it's been so tough for everyone.'</p><p>"The island isn't resting on its laurels. Eigg is continuing to work towards becoming more sustainable. 'We're involved with another feasibility study looking at how we could become <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CarbonNeutral" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CarbonNeutral</span></a>,' Fyffe said. 'We're hoping to build a house and renovate the old doctor's surgery for rent, and we're going to trial air source heat pumps [running off the electricity grid] to see how efficient they are. Then, people can move in that direction. We'd need more supply for this, probably three big turbines, although this is early days.'"</p><p>Read more:<br><a href="https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20231025-the-isle-of-eigg-the-community-owned-island-that-powers-itself" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">bbc.com/travel/article/2023102</span><span class="invisible">5-the-isle-of-eigg-the-community-owned-island-that-powers-itself</span></a></p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Scotland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Scotland</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SolarPunk" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SolarPunk</span></a></p>