In September 2022, in view of an unprecedented increase in energy costs, Stonehaven and District Men’s Shed (SDMS) decided to investigate installing its own means of generating power and heat. It was felt that this would go some way towards addressing our carbon footprint and contributing towards Net Zero.
Vice Chairman, Duncan Cursiter, volunteered his services as Project Lead, and the following is his much abridged summary of the project. The full summary has been shared with other sheds as well as the Scottish Men’s Shed and the UK Men’s Shed Associations. Both umbrella organisations have intimated the value of the summary in guiding other sheds towards carbon neutrality.
Stonehaven & District Men’s Shed (SDMS), under Duncan’s leadership, visited and corresponded with Alford and Aboyne Men’s Sheds and other community organisations to enquire how they were addressing their particular energy needs.
SDMS then contacted several suppliers to obtain proposals based on their assessments of equipment requirements and costs. The valuable feedback received enabled SDMS to arrive at a “ball park” budget figure. The resulting package comprised of a 36-solar panel array of 14.58kW total output, battery storage of 13.8kWh and six Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) units of total capacity 30kWh.
An experienced agent was appointed and planning applications and building warrants were submitted to Aberdeenshire Council, in December 2022.
To finance the project, applications for grants were made to Community and Renewable Energy Scotland, (CARES) and Local Energy Scotland and Coastal Communities Challenge Fund (CCCF). An 80% grant was offered by CARES and 20% was offered by CCCF.
SDMS commissioned a Noise Impact Assessment to check if the external units of our ASHP equipment could disturb our neighbours. This indicated a requirement to reduce noise which was accomplished by Shed members making and fitting timber screens.
SDMS also commissioned an Electrical Installation Condition Report, an Environmental Performance Certificate, a Fire Risk Assessment, an Asbestos Report and Legionnaires disease survey. Existing electrical consumer units were upgraded to current standards.
A structural survey showed that the roof structure needed to be upgraded to support the wind/weight loading of the solar array, and so the Shed had to reconfigure the array and strengthen the roof purlins.
Installation began in November 2023 and was completed in February 2024.
The project budget was £85,803. Grants of £62,711 at 80% was claimed from CARES and £13,138 at 20% claimed from CCCF. We were unable to claim £4,676 of other costs out-with the approved grants.
Total project cost was £80,526.
The equipment is all working to specification and data is being collected to evaluate the cost benefit and early indications point towards significant power cost savings for the Shed. Investigations are now taking place in order to sell our surplus power to a suitable energy company so that income may be gained.
We look forward to the benefits of lowering our energy demand from the grid, making our premises more comfortable in winter, reducing our costs, reducing our carbon footprint and contributing towards Net Zero.