Smart Solar & Storage – Aberdeenshire
Key Power Circle team members have been working together with Aberdeenshire Council to access LCITP funding and deliver the Smart, Solar and Storage project.
- 500 home PV and battery project for existing homes – developed by the social enterprise iPower, which has created the Power Circle model. Due to complete in 2022 (after some delays due to COVID).
- First social housing project on this scale to incorporate generation of grid services income
- Challenge overcome – grid consents for solar PV had been refused for most of the homes concerned. Solved by smart management with battery
- Covers rural and urban homes in Aberdeenshire
- Aberdeenshire has an estimated 35% of social households in fuel poverty. This project drastically reduces fuel poverty. Solar and storage provides a greater tenant benefit than solar alone.
- Solar and storage helps to meet regulatory targets: 15-20 additional SAP points under SAP 10.
Following some delays due to Covid the project is nearing completion and it is hoped it will go live by the end of 2021.
Climate Positive homes – Elgin
Through funding from Innovate UK and in partnership with Grampian Housing Association Power Circle has undertaken a feasibility study and developed a fully costed business case for the development of climate positive homes at Woodfield in Elgin. This has also provided us with a template for new build projects. The solution incorporates near Passiv Haus levels of energy efficiency in the homes, extensive onsite generation though ‘whole roof’ BIPV (plus rooftop wind) linked to a central battery through an integrated smart local energy system ‘minigrid’ (private wire). Central energy storage optimises local use of on site generation, enable use of lower cost overnight electricity to meet import requirements and provision of grid services. The model is based on a social energy service company being established to run the local energy network and sell the energy back to the tenants at affordable prices.
Climate Positive Retrofit
Power Circle worked with a housing association to develop a low carbon energy solution for the redevelopment of former of a former school site. The development includes 34 new homes within the converted former school buildings, 16 new build on adjoining land and three new community buildings. The proposed solution incorporates smart solar and storage linked via private wire to a central battery and low carbon heating. A social Energy Service Company (ESCo) would develop and operate the local energy system which would provide affordable, renewable energy to tenants.
Consultancy- Atalian Servest
Power Circle has completed a number of renewable energy assessments for Atalian Servest. This has included Solar PV assessment for the a Scottish government agency determining the scope and outline business case for solar PV/further solar PV across twelve sites in their estate and similar assessments for a Scottish College and a third sector organisation.