We Visited an Energy-Independent Island
The remote Scottish island of Egg achieved energy independence in 2008 by relying on wind solar and hydro for energy. It's become an example for how communities around the world can switch off from fossil fuels. We're here to find out how this island has taken control of its future and how we as visitors can immerse ourselves in this incredible place without leaving a negative impact while Egg used to be owned by various wealthy individuals. In 1997 the island was purchased by the Egg Heritage Trust, putting it into community ownership, thereby allowing residents to make the decisions that would shape their future. Energy was a big part of that future with cables connecting it to the mainland. Out of the question and diesel generators requiring expensive fuel to be shipped in the island instead turned towards its own natural resources. Wind remains an abundant resource with the island benefiting from a series of wind turbines providing year round power. Egg Electric. The island owned company operating the grid maintains a solar array, generating significant energy stored in a giant series of constantly maintained batteries and sure the solar panels operate at their best on sunny days, but sunny days tend to be few and far between in Scotland. Yet the island actually generates more power overall during the winter months. So how well the increased rainfall results in more water flow in the island's rivers? And that provides significant power from the three hydroelectric generators. The island has installed in key locations. Well, you might be thinking a hydroelectric generator would look like some giant eyesore on this pristine landscape. We were actually surprised at how well they blended into the surroundings. We visited one of the largest generators which is nestled into the greenery and looks more like a garden shed from the outside. You'd have no idea that it houses something so important to the life of the island and it shows that energy infrastructure doesn't have to be a blight on the landscape. Islanders get a five kilowatt allowance of energy to use at any one time from their home. While businesses on the island can use 10 kilowatts though some businesses like the isle of egg brewery supplement their allowance with their own energy production. Most businesses on egg get 10 kilowatts because we're in the middle of the island next to the smallest transformer, we were only or are only allowed five. The bre kit itself um uses electricity that we get from our solar panels or from e electric renewable grid system and it's also powered by a gasification boiler that we have next door that heats up 1000 L of water using egg grown wood. The most energy consuming part of our process is one of the most environmentally sustainable parts of our process to midsummer. We can actually go through the whole brew process just on our solar panels as tourists. We can enjoy our time on the island including its local beers. Knowing that our environmental footprint is minimal, but it's not just about beer. Visitors can't bring their cars to the island. So instead have to get around using electric bikes recharged. Of course, using the renewable grid is an unspoiled, beautiful place. You know, I fell in love with this island and when I moved here, I don't, certainly don't want to change anything here. I don't even want to necessarily change the volume of people that visit the island to a degree because it has a certain amount of untouched beauty to it. And for me, it was a very obvious step because of the beautiful dovetail with egg electric. You know, I can, I can hire and I do hire lightweight renewable e bikes um and renewable powered. We're not greenwashing with that statement. It is renewable powered energy from egg electric, which was something we're very proud of as a community and I am very proud of as a business to evangelize that to the to the wider audience, which is our visitors that come. It's a template here really for what can be achieved if you put your mind to it by all the businesses and, and all of them here are partly responsible for working towards that goal. This is great because not only am I cycling, which of course is already an incredibly green and sustainable way to explore an island like this, but it's an E bike that's powered entirely by the island's own renewable energy sources. And that feels great. Even our accommodation is part of that sustainable story. These pods are our accommodation here on egg and not only are they powered by renewable energy, but they're owned by the community with all money generated going back into the island beyond its renewable energy, egg is a pristine natural environment to visit with wildlife walks to see things like otters or even eagles and visitors can also take part in island beach cleans operated by locals. It means that tourists like us are able to go beyond simply leaving no trace by actually leaving the island a little cleaner than we found it. Visiting egg has been an absolutely incredible experience, not just because the island is absolutely stunning, but also because our presence here has had such little impact on the environment, charging our bikes, our phones, our cameras has all been done using the island's own renewable energy. Every beer that we've drank here has been sustainably produced right here on egg and every penny that we have spent in our accommodation in the shops in the restaurant has all gone back into keeping this island the truly special place that it is. While communities all over the world are working out how to minimize their reliance on national grids and fossil fuels. Egg stands as a shining example of what community owned renewable energy can look like.