UHI North, West, and Hebrides is to bring together international experts on August 26 to explore how storing locally generated renewable energy could deliver greater benefits for communities.
Sponsored by Point and Sandwick Trust, the conference – which is open to the public – will take place at UHI North, West, and Hebrides in Stornoway and online on August 26, from 9.30am to 4.30pm.
The day will explore how communities can use energy storage to maximise the value of renewable electricity they generate, with a particular focus on the role of battery and hydrogen energy storage systems in supporting resilient, community-scale renewable energy projects.
UHI explained the conference comes at a time when communities are increasingly looking at how renewable energy can deliver local benefits, against a backdrop of growing concerns over energy security and the risk of shortages.
Delegates will have the opportunity to hear from experts and explore a range of topics including community energy storage, battery systems, hydrogen technologies, renewable energy integration, community-scale project planning and future opportunities for local energy.
Aimed at a wide audience, including community energy groups, local authorities, renewable energy developers, researchers, students, and industry professionals, the conference is open to anyone interested in the future of community energy.
Joe Macphee, head of strategic projects at UHI North, West, and Hebrides, said, “At UHI North, West, and Hebrides, the aspiration is to enable small community groups to exercise greater control over how the renewable energy they generate is utilised, including its distribution within the local community to help reduce fuel poverty. While the primary focus of this conference is the Western Isles, where remote geography, grid constraints and high energy costs create both challenges and opportunities for community-led energy systems, the issues being addressed have much wider relevance.
“This conference will address these challenges by bringing together leading academics to present state-of-the-art technologies that could enable small-scale producers to store energy more effectively and develop innovative applications for surplus generation. By fostering collaboration between researchers, community organisations and other stakeholders, the event will explore practical pathways towards more resilient, affordable and locally controlled energy systems.”
Calum MacDonald, Business Director at Point and Sandwick Trust, said, “The more that communities own and shape green energy systems on the islands, the more benefit these systems deliver to the local economy. Community wind farms already deliver thirty times more local income per MW than ones controlled from outside and we believe the same will be true for new storage technologies like batteries and hydrogen.
“That is why Point and Sandwick Trust are developing a community-owned battery to support the local grid and why we are also investing in hydrogen skills and training through our long-standing partnership with UHI North, West and Hebrides. We are delighted to be able to support this conference as a valuable opportunity to share practical experience and explore how community-based energy storage can help deliver greater benefits from renewable energy for our islands.”
The conference will be held in person at UHI North, West, and Hebrides in Stornoway, with an online option available. Register for a free place online or in person here.
