Fund set to provide rural communities with adverse weather supplies
Homes across Caithness are set to benefit from a UK wide electric distribution fund.
The Scottish and Southern Electrics Networks (SSEN) serves around 3.9 million people across the United Kingdom and has now opened its new Powering Communities to Net Zero fund, which will support rural communities in danger of power-outages during periods of bad weather, well as developing new sources of green energy.
The fund is set to last until 2028, and will be spit into two categories. Grants worth £15,000 will be awarded to vulnerable communities in an effort to bolster their resilience during periods of bad weather.
Low-Carbon Technology grants, promoting the use of solar panels, EV Chargers, low carbon heating systems and other green powered energy measures will be handed out to successful applicants, worth £20,000.
In all, the two-pronged scheme will distribute a total of £3 million pounds across the UK.
Applications to the scheme are now open for 2024/25 and are encouraged via the SSEN website
On the fund, SSEN Distribution’s Managing Director Chris Burchell said he was happy to support smaller communities located throughout Scotland and the UK: “The Powering Communities to Net Zero fund has been developed to help improve resilience and the environment for the communities we serve and will enhance the offering and awards we previously made through the Resilient Communities Fund.
“The Resilient Communities Fund has been helping hundreds of communities and vulnerable community members since it started in 2015, and we’re looking forward to the new fund building on that legacy; bringing greater resilience, sustainability and a path to net zero for all of our customers living and working in the north of Scotland and central southern England.”
Previous SSEN schemes have benefitted rural Scottish towns and villages. In Moray and Angus, applicants were provided with wind up torches, battery packs and radio’s - ensuring residents were prepared in the event of prolonged blackouts in adverse weather.