Islay is in a challenging situation. At present, most of our energy demand is met via imported fossil fuels.
There is no simple answer to this – solutions that could be relatively straightforward and cost effective on the mainland become a lot trickier when applied to Islay. Hydrogen requires fresh water and renewable electricity. Biomass requires a sustainable supply and the transport and infrastructure to accommodate it. Electricity itself is constrained by the capacity of the local grid.
To try to address this, the CNI project and Islay Energy Trust are working alongside a range of stakeholders to better understand the present and future energy needs of the island. What is clear is that whatever future energy mix Islay has, it will need more electricity. Not just for distilleries, but also heat pumps for homes, new connections for more housing, charging for transport, and more.
The Scottish Government’s Carbon Neutral Islands programme aims for Islay to reach net-zero emissions by 2040. That year may seem distant. But 16 years is really not that long when taking into account the infrastructural changes that are required. Which is why we need to start preparing now.