Carbon Neutral Islands - Cumbrae

30/07/2026

Delighted that we have been successful in our bid to secure funding from The Scottish Government as part of the Carbon Neutral Islands Project on Cumbrae for a third year.

A further £144.5k to help us continue our work towards 1MW of generating capacity from rooftop Solar PV on the island, building on the existing 655% increase in the last 3 years, and our development of 'The Cumbrae Model' (read more about that on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/p/erfhRduG).

Raasay, Islay, Hoy, Great Cumbrae and Barra could reduce their carbon emissions to zero by 2040.

02/06/2026

A Council partnership project has seen more than 30 homes on Great Cumbrae being fitted with solar panels and battery storage systems.

The Millport Solar PV and Battery Project is a community-led, phased programme with three aims:

● reducing Scope 2 carbon emissions – resulting from grid supplied electricity

● tackling fuel poverty and

● building local energy resilience.

It is part of the Carbon Neutral Islands (CNI) project, which is a Scottish Government programme supporting six islands across the country.

Councillor Eleanor Collier, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy, said: "There are many benefits to Millport Solar PV and Battery Project. It will produce clean energy, help islanders to cut their energy bills and drive the local effort to cut residents’ carbon footprint."

Read more here ➡ https://tinyurl.com/57z2n4ze

25/03/2026

Delighted to have been informed that Carbon Neutral Cumbrae has been nominated and shortlisted as one of three finalists of the North Ayrshire 'Environmental Champion of the Year' award 2026 sponsored by Aspris

Congratulations also to the team at Radio City Association, and Irvine Clean Up Crew in making the finalists shortlist as well.

https://www.largsandmillportnews.com/news/25960898.north-ayrshire-community-champion-awards-finalists-confirmed/

20/01/2026

Just before Christmas we were delighted to be informed that the Millport Solar PV and Battery project had been shortlisted in the Top 5 in the UK for an Ashden Award in the 'Local Energy Innovation' category. Following the highs of winning 'Best Community Project' at the Scottish Renewables Green Energy Awards in December, what a way to finish for the holidays!

Amazing to be recognised at this level alongside some of the UK's leading community energy projects.

"Great project supporting renewable energy and storage deployment on an island community. Excellent example of what can be achieved when a community is involved in designing a project" and "Good innovation in approach to respond to community needs. Great also to see the difference that a local officer to coordinate funding can make".

What we as a community are building on Cumbrae isn't just an infrastructure project - it's a model of distributed energy, replicable and phased, whilst ensuring the money saved remains in the pockets of those who earned it in the first place... Direct Community Wealth Building.

And for the CNI Project it’s decarbonisation as a consequence of delivering on local priorities.

With another 30 properties scheduled before the end of March, here's to the next phase and to every community proving that local action can drive national change.

Many thanks again to everyone at the Ashden Awards for their recognition and kinds words in their feedback.

09/12/2025

Absolutely delighted to be invited to speak with MSPs, and be able to represent both Cumbrae and the Carbon Neutral Islands Project, at this special joint meeting of the CPG for Islands and CPG for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency.

The Cross Party Group on Islands in The Scottish Parliament (CPG Islands) and the Cross Party Group on Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency in The Scottish Parliament (SPREEE) have joined forces for a special meeting focused on the challenges and opportunities relating to the energy transition in Scotland's islands.

📅 Tuesday, 13th January from 18:30 to 20:00
➡️Hybrid in The Scottish Parliament and online

SPEAKERS:

Scott Watson - Carbon Neutral Islands Project Manager for Cumbrae
Calum MacDonald - Development Director of Point and Sandwick Trust and Chair of Community Energy Scotland
Adele Lidderdale - UHI Orkney

After the presentations there will be opportunity for you to participate in open discussion with MSPs from both Cross Party Groups.

Everyone with an interest in Scotland's islands and/or Scotland's energy transition is invited to register through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/joint-cpg-on-islands-and-cpg-on-renewable-energy-energy-efficiency-tickets-1976432820771?aff=oddtdtcreator



Scottish Islands Federation Community Energy Scotland Carbon Neutral Islands - Cumbrae Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP

05/12/2025

Still in shock and processing this… However we are delighted and extremely proud to share that Cumbrae has won ‘Best Community Project’ at the Scottish Renewables Green Energy Awards 2025 for the Millport Solar PV and Battery Project.

This is huge recognition of the work that has been happening locally, within the Carbon Neutral Island Project, CCDC, various installers (including Green Home Systems, Valley Group), North Ayrshire Council’s Energy and Sustainability Team, and the Scottish Government Islands Team.

More so, its recognition of the Cumbrae community's desire and willingness to do it differently, and in a way that works for us.

We know concerns about large renewables projects run deep on the island, and we'd like to thank the local community for the trust you’ve placed in the CNI Project and Carbon Neutral Cumbrae to deliver something different, a distributed system that works for the island, and is forming the very foundation of everything we are working towards.

Since January 2023, Cumbrae has seen a 466% increase in rooftop Solar PV. Over half a megawatt of installed capacity, representing a third of our island’s peak average demand according to SSEN and a long way towards our 1MW target by 2030.

Working at the individual, household level, generating at source... this is what delivers real savings for local people, improved energy resilience, and measurable reductions in emissions.

The job is far from done. But well done Cumbrae for doing it differently 👏

Scott & Dianne