CPO’s Roots
When the Orkney communities were commissioning their individual turbines they wanted to create a local community solution that would both satisfy the requirements of lenders but also ensured value and development were retained within their communities. So, collectively they came to an arrangement that allowed turbine managers on each island to operate and maintain their own installations whilst being supported by Community Energy Scotland (rather than having to employ/procure external professional resources to achieve the same thing). This arrangement continues today.
As a joint endeavour, CPO won the SURF Award for Partnership Working in 2012. It has been used for formal and informal collaboration since, and also is now mirrored by a similar arrangement in the Western Isles, called Community Power Outer Hebrides (CPOH).
What We Do
The group meet regularly, and wherever appropriate, exchange information and knowledge and work collectively. Most recently, CES and the trading subsidiaries of five of the community groups who operate turbines (Eday Renewable Energy Ltd, Hoy Energy Ltd, REWIRED Ltd (Rousay, Egilsay & Wyre), Shapinsay Renewables, and Stronsay Renewable Energy Ltd) have been working collectively with a joint Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) contract with energy purchasers, to secure increased value from all the green energy they produce together.
For further information on Community Power Orkney please contact our Orkney team, based in Kirkwall, on 07920 182308.
