HIE FOCUS Issue 8

WINTER 2021 | ISSUE 08

SHOWCASING SUCCESS IN THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS

THE TEMPLE CAFE Paving the way for green recovery

MOVING TOWARDS DESTINATION NET ZERO £1.47m set to support tourism

AIM HIGH TO REALISE LOW CARBON AMBITIONS

WHY I LOVE RUNNING MY BUSINESS

Rod Read, founder and director at Windswept and Interesting Ltd

CONTENTS Foreword..........................................................3 Aim high to realise low carbon ambitions....................................4 #NetZero Hero: AES Solar............................ 7 #NetZero Hero: Renewable Parts. . ..............8 Transforming “coptimism” into positive action. . ......................................9 The sky’s no longer the limit . . .................. 10 Islands pave the way for green recovery. . ..................................... 12 Tha taic deatamach airson eadar-ghluasad carbon ìosal eileanan.......14

AMANDA SAURIN IS DEVELOPING HER ISLAND BUSINESS WITH

A STRONG FOCUS ON LOW CARBON, SEE PAGE 12

CONTACT US hie.marketing@hient.co.uk +44 (0)1463 245245 hie.co.uk

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Sparking the transition to low carbon energy in the Outer Hebrides and beyond ................................. 16 International collaboration driving innovation in Argyll and the West Highlands and Islands ..................... 18 Moving towards destination net zero.................................... 22 Go green with your digital carbon footprint.. ............................ 26 Why I love running my business in the Highlands and Islands: Rod Read, founder and director at Windswept and Interesting Ltd...................................... 28

FOREWORD Welcome to the winter edition of FOCUS magazine. Hot on the heels of COP26 we have taken the opportunity to focus on net zero – Scotland’s ambitious target of reaching net zero emissions by 2045.

Our region has much to celebrate when it comes to low carbon developments and the potential for much more. Indeed, as an organisation HIE has prioritised a green recovery and a fair and just transition to net zero as we navigate our way to economic recovery from the impacts of the pandemic. We recognise that our natural assets and leading role in renewable energy have a major part to play in Scotland’s net zero target. This will provide our region with huge opportunities and this issue of FOCUS magazine gives a flavour of the exciting developments, innovation and passion of our business and community clients in this endeavour.

We recently announced the appointment of our new chief executive. Stuart Black will take up his position in January 2022. It has been an honour to serve as interim chief executive of HIE and I wish Stuart all the very best in his new role. I know he will be supported by a great team here at HIE, a much wider network of partners and of course fantastic and ambitious businesses and community organisations, all working hard to ensure a successful and sustainable future for the economy of our region.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy festive season and very best wishes for the New Year.

Carroll Buxton, Interim chief excutive, HIE

Fàilte gu eagran a’ gheamhraidh de iris FOCUS. A’ leantainn gu dlùth air COP26, tha sinn air cothrom a ghabhail cuimseachadh air neoini lom – targaid àrd-amasail na h-Alba airson neoini lom eimiseanan a ruighinn ro 2045. Tha mòran aig ar roinn ri chomharrachadh nuair a thig e gu leasachaidhean càrboin ìosal agus comas air mòran a bharrachd. Gu dearbh mar bhuidheann, tha HIE air prìomhachas a thoirt do ath-shlànachadh uaine agus eadar-ghluasad cothromach is ceart gu neoini lom fhad ’s a bhios sinn a’ stiùireadh an eaconamaidh a-mach às a’ phandamaig. Tha sinn a’ tuigsinn gu bheil prìomh phàirt aig ar so-mhaoinean nàdarra agus ar stiùir ann an cumhachd athnuadhachail ri choileanadh, ann an targaid neoini lom na h-Alba.

Bheir seo cothroman fìor mhòr do ar roinn agus tha an t-eagran seo de iris FOCUS a’ toirt dhuinn blasad de na leasachaidhean brosnachail, ùr-ghnàthachadh is dìoghras ar luchd-dèiligidh gnothachais is coimhearsnachd, san oidhirp seo.

O chionn ghoirid, dh’ainmich sinn gun deach àrd-oifigear ùr fhastadh. Bidh Stiùbhart MacIIleDhuibh a’ gabhail na dreuchd san Fhaoilleach 2022. Tha e air a bhith na urram a bhith a’ frithealadh mar àrd-oifigear eadar-amail HIE, agus tha mi a’ guidhe gach soirbheachas do Stiùbhart na dhreuchd ùr. Tha fios agam gum bi taic aige bho sgioba air leth an seo aig HIE agus bho lìonra mòran nas fharsainge de chom-pàirtichean, agus gu dearbh gnothachasan is coimhearsnachdan iongantach is àrdamasail, ’s iad uile ag obair cruaidh gus a dhèanamh cinnteach gum bi eaconamaidh soirbheachail agus seasmhach san roinn againn san àm ri teachd.

A’ guidhe dhuibh uile seusan fèiseil a bhios toilichte agus fallain agus gach deagh dhùrachd airson na Bliadhna Ùir.

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AIM HIGH TO REALISE LOW CARBON AMBITIONS Following COP26, we look at how the Highlands and Islands are well positioned to secure lasting benefit from the energy transition, and will help deliver net zero and build regional prosperity.

Across the Highlands and Islands there are many examples of individual communities and businesses that are already making a difference in the world of energy transition and low carbon.

From small-scale hydro schemes to companies innovating in solar and tidal power through to local wind generation and not-for-profit enterprises in the circular economy, the move to delivering net zero is gaining real pace at a community level.

The significant, arguably unrivalled, natural resources of the region, from wind, wave and tidal through to our peatlands and coastline, mean that large multinational companies involved in energy transition innovation are seriously looking at the Highlands and Islands as a location to deploy at scale or to manufacture for a global market.

Across onshore and offshore wind, solar and hydro power, bioenergy, green hydrogen production, tidal and wave energy, and more recently carbon sequestration, the Highlands and Islands are home to a range of collaborative energy transition and net zero projects which will be vital in terms of creating next generation employment opportunities and helping to maintain and strengthen communities across the region. Below, we capture some of these headline projects along with some personal reflections following on from COP26.

A RENEWED FOCUS, A RENEWED MOMENTUM During COP26, companies and projects from the Highlands and Islands featured in a wide range of events, including those held within Scotland’s Climate Ambition Zone. Hosted by Scottish Enterprise, in partnership with HIE, South of Scotland Enterprise and the Scottish Government, the programme of 24 events over the two weeks of COP26 attracted 1,066 in-person delegates and 1,631 virtual delegates. A total of 90 companies from far and wide showcased their net zero credentials via a virtual exhibition which all participants in the programme could access.

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With HIE leading and contributing to some of the key sessions, notably on offshore wind, hydrogen and marine energy, it was an opportunity to put the spotlight on the spectrum of opportunities that exist within the region and now driven by the global commitment to net zero.

Hosted in partnership with Wave Energy Scotland, the marine energy session provided a platform to highlight the important role that wave and tidal have to play in the transition.

“Since it’s based on natural tide patterns, we can accurately predict the output of any tidal marine energy system long before it’s installed,” explains Neil Kermode, managing director of the Orkney-based European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC). “That makes tidal power a hugely valuable renewable energy source – and it’s important to share an ambitious vision at sessions like these to inspire people to see the vast possibilities.”

HIE’s director of energy transition and net zero, Audrey MacIver, adds: “The Highlands and Islands have played a lead role in getting marine energy technology to where it is today. We’re already worldleading in the sector with innovative technology developers launching new concepts in our coastal waters, and an experienced supply chain that has evolved to support them. But we need to ensure that we continue to build on the work done over the past two decades.”

Significantly, in recent months, increasing private sector investment in the marine energy sector has been very encouraging and HIE remains committed to working with its partners to move the sector to the next level by supporting a step change to commercialisation and beyond. The recent confirmation of tidal energy support within the UK Government’s next low carbon energy auction round represents a major boost for the industry.

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#NetZeroHeroes Individual businesses and communities from across the Highlands and Islands are leading the way towards a sustainable future. We feature quite a few in this issue of FOCUS, but you will find many more inspiring stories on a dedicated section of our website – here.

#GaisgichNetZero Tha gnothachasan is coimhearsnachdan fa leth bho air feadh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean a’ treòrachadh na slighe a dh’ionnsaigh seasmhachd san àm ri teachd. Tha sinn a’ sealltainn àireamh dhiubh san eagran seo de FOCUS, ach lorgaidh sibh mòran a bharrachd sgeulachdan brosnachail ann an earrann ainmichte air an làrach-lìn againn – an seo.

Commenting on the announcement, Andrew Scott, chief executive officer at Orbital Marine Power on Orkney, said: “We have long called for this sort of ringfenced funding to develop this important technology and to further build a homegrown industry around it.

“Having this clear, positive signal from UK Government gives us the platform to grow the investment in our pioneering business and unlock the vital investments we need to make in our supply chain and projects to deliver an exciting, new renewable energy sector that can help turn the tide on climate change. This will see sustainable, green jobs created in the UK along with predictable, low carbon electricity generated to help deliver net zero against the backdrop of a global export market."

Underlining that ambition, Orbital Marine Power who are currently testing their technology at EMEC on Orkney, recently agreed a strategic partnership with TechnipFMC. Having launched the world’s most powerful tidal turbine in 2021, Orbital Marine Power will have access to TechnipFMC’s industrialisation capabilities to help further develop their technology and deliver the first commercial scale floating tidal array.

Meanwhile, Scottish tidal energy companies Nova Innovation and SIMEC Atlantis Energy have now entered an agreement to deliver more UK-built tidal turbines. The tidal collaboration will focus on SIMEC’s MeyGen site in the Pentland Firth and will see the partners work together to deliver their complementary technologies for the tidal industry in Scotland, the rest of the UK and internationally.

Such developments in marine energy are particularly encouraging when seen against the backdrop of major commercial initiatives focused on realising the huge potential of wind energy and green hydrogen across the Highlands and Islands.

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Proposals from the likes of Opportunity Cromarty Firth and Offshore Wind Power Ltd have underlined the region’s ambition to be a major producer of green hydrogen.

In December 2021, the First Minister’s announcement of a £110m plan to build the UK’s largest offshore wind tower factory at Nigg made international headlines. A joint venture by Global Energy Group and Spanish firm Haizea Wind Group, the new factory is expected to create hundreds of high value green jobs.

In Shetland, the ORION Clean Energy Project led by Shetland Islands Council in partnership with the University of Strathclyde, the Net Zero Technology Centre, and HIE, aims to create green hydrogen for export (from both on and offshore wind) and transform Shetland’s current reliance on fossil fuels to affordable renewable energy. A number of proposals are being developed, including two multi gigawatt offshore wind farms proposed by Aker Horizons and Cerculean Winds which would produce green hydrogen and link into repurposed facilities at Sullom Voe Terminal.

While in Orkney, plans to redevelop the Flotta oil terminal as a large-scale green hydrogen facility have been announced by Offshore Wind Power Limited (OWPL), a consortium formed by the Green Investment Group, TotalEnergies and RIDG Group, in partnership with the terminal operators Repsol Sinopec and Uniper. The OWPL consortium has submitted a proposal to the Crown Estate Scotland’s offshore wind leasing round (ScotWind) to develop the West of Orkney Windfarm which would deliver renewable power to the facility at Flotta.

The potential scale of these multi-billion-pound projects is not only exciting for the contribution they could make to meeting Scotland’s net zero targets, but also the potential to repurpose oil and gas facilities, and to make use of existing skills which will be important to ensure a just energy transition that helps to protect local jobs and communities.

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NEW IDEAS, OPPORTUNITIES AND CONNECTIONS Elsewhere, HIE continues to support many other businesses and organisations to develop new low carbon opportunities across the energy transition.

In Argyll and Bute, HIE is leading a major project to explore and quantify commercial opportunities associated with carbon sequestration across the local authority area. Having secured £260,000 for the project from the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund, the aim is to put the region at the forefront of efforts to absorb and store carbon from the atmosphere, in ways that also generate economic and community benefits.

Commenting on the project, entitled ‘Optimising carbon sequestration for community wealth building’, Dr Zoe Laird, HIE’s regional head of communities, says: “After COP26, the need for action to address climate change and achieve our ambitious net zero targets has never been clearer. Carbon sequestration will form an important part of that process. We believe there is considerable potential for Argyll and Bute to benefit from this, not just environmentally but socially and economically.”

Also timed to coincide with COP26, the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland’s (NMIS) event in November was attended by businesses from the UK who were urged to pursue more environmentally sustainable manufacturing operations.

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Terry Stebbings, director, Proterra Energy, says:

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Entitled ‘Manufacturing a net-zero future’, the event brought together many major industry players with small innovators and developers. One attendee from the Highlands and Islands, was Proterra Energy, which specialises in the design, installation and maintenance of renewable energy systems, and in particular micro hydro schemes.

“For us, as a small business in the Highlands, it is all about visibility, and it was a great event for that. We had conversations with government ministers from Sri Lanka, representatives from the defence sector, and from Volvo who were interested in the potential of using small scale hydro to charge JCB electric diggers in the field.

“It was very interesting to hear how bigger businesses are now talking about their willingness to share their net zero learnings, to discuss what solutions they are looking at, and then urging us to take advantage of those insights. As a small business it is encouraging to hear the likes of Volvo say we’re prepared to help you because we need to do this together.”

#NetZero Hero: Renewable Parts Wind farms are among the most recognisable elements of the growing renewable energy industry in Scotland, and Lochgilphead-based Renewable Parts is on a mission to make the turbines themselves as environmentally friendly as the energy they produce.

“The energy is green,” explains Matthew Chapman, marketing manager, “but the supply chain is brown.”

While the operational lifecycle of a wind turbine is around 25 years, each of the 8,000 component parts within each turbine must be inspected and serviced every 6-12 months and replaced when they become worn down. Rather than sending those parts to landfill and sourcing new parts, which results in waste and increased carbon emissions, Renewable Parts is pioneering new refurbishment and remanufacture processes to safely upgrade pre-used components. To date, Renewable Parts has prevented around 70 tonnes of components being sent to landfill and, by supplying the client with refurbished parts instead of new, has also prevented over 130 tonnes of carbon emissions.

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#NetZero Hero: AES Solar AES Solar has been at the forefront of solar technology in Scotland since first established in the Findhorn eco-community in 1979. The first firm in western Europe to manufacture solar thermal collectors, AES Solar design, install and maintain solar energy systems producing both heat and electricity for domestic and commercial customers.

AES Solar has installed over 7,000 solar panels, across properties ranging from the Balmoral Estate to the 2018 Grand Designs House of the Year. Producing over 91,000 megawatt hours to date, those panels have prevented 22,418 tonnes of carbon emissions – the equivalent to offsetting over 22,000 commercial transatlantic flights. With the AES Solar team having doubled in size in the past five years, managing director George Goudsmit is determined to increase the use of solar in Scotland too.

George says: “The more energy you can get from solar without having to draw from the grid, the better.”

JOINING THE UN’S RACE TO ZERO Organisations from across the Highlands and Islands are also among thousands from around the world who have pledged to support the UN ‘Race to Zero’ campaign, building momentum towards a decarbonised economy by allowing nongovernmental bodies to drive forward the zero-carbon agenda.

With more than 120 countries and over 3,000 businesses represented, signatories to the Race to Zero pledge account for over 50% of GDP around the world as well as 25% of global CO2 emissions.

Among those signatories is Inverness-based 4c Engineering.

Formed by engineers with professional interests in renewable energy, they frequently help clients enhance their own sustainability.

“We naturally gravitate towards client projects with a sustainability angle, and carefully consider the sustainability of the materials we use and recommend, so it was a natural extension for us to commit to sustainability behind the scenes as well,” explains director Andy Hall.

“Working through the pledge commitments helped us feel confident that in many areas, such as office lighting and insulation, we’re running about as sustainably as we can be.

“The biggest eye opener for us was realising that just one short trip for two members of our team to meet a client in Bilbao before the lockdown accounted for 37% of our entire carbon emissions for 2020. So as travel opens up again, we’ll be a lot more mindful of how we engage with our clients. We’ve invested in top-of-the-line remote collaboration software and will prioritise train travel when we do need to meet face to face.

We’re also turning our attention to less obvious gains and are in the process of switching our pension funds to providers with a stronger sustainability ethos.”

Other Highlands and Islands businesses that have already signed up to the UN Race to Zero pledge include Orbital Marine Power, Orkney-based Aquatera, and Isle of Barra Distillers Ltd.

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TRANSFORMING “COPTIMISM” INTO POSITIVE ACTION As two thirds of the world’s countries commit to net zero, I believe we should view COP26 as a positive step in the right direction and be encouraged by the scale of the opportunity rather than daunted by the enormity of the challenge.

Scotland’s Climate Ambition Zone at COP26, which was hosted by Scottish Enterprise, in partnership with South of Scotland Enterprise, HIE and the Scottish Government, was an opportunity for our businesses and communities to demonstrate the many positive steps already being taken and to showcase their will, determination and tenacity to lower their carbon impact and to collaborate with others in doing so.

The ambition was well received, whether that be multiple gigawatts of renewable generation across on- and offshore wind, rapid scaling of hydrogen production, removing fossil fuels as a source of home heating, securing our leading role in marine energy developments, or enhancing the value of carbon sequestration in our region. But the overriding question was: how will this all be delivered at the scale and pace required?

The zone was a very welcome opportunity to nurture publicprivate partnerships in addressing that challenge, and many of the events put the two pillars of innovation and investment at the centre of our combined efforts to accelerate the just transition to net zero. To achieve the scale and pace of development required to meet net zero targets, collaboration between communities, businesses, academia and the public sector on key areas of technology, investment, regulation, and market development is critical. Given so much of that was evident at the Climate Ambition Zone (and beyond), there’s reason to be hopeful that the necessary action can and will be mobilised.

But we can’t be complacent.

Here at HIE, we’re absolutely committed to being an integral part of the journey to net zero, helping mobilise action across our communities and businesses, taking inspiration from others (including our Net Zero Heroes!) and leading by example. Whilst a key focus over the last couple of years has been providing businesses and communities with COVID-19 resilience and recovery support, we have also been working to ensure that net zero is firmly embedded within our own organisation, making it mainstream, and part and parcel of our thinking.

We’re reviewing and adapting the tools we use to support our businesses and communities. We’re strengthening the role of procurement in stimulating our suppliers to take action, and committing to embed net zero within our own property investment decisions. We’re upskilling our staff to become climate change champions, making key net zero investments in businesses and issuing community asset decarbonisation funding calls. It is clear that net zero is already becoming the golden thread throughout the organisation and our work to develop the region’s economy.

As we look ahead and develop HIE’s next three-year strategy we will continue to sharpen our focus on net zero as a key driver of sustainable economic growth. We can and will play a leading role along with partner agencies, committed businesses and inspirational communities, to put into action our collective plans to deliver a vibrant, net zero Highlands and Islands.

AUDREY MACIVER DIRECTOR OF ENERGY TRANSITION AND NET ZERO, HIE

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THE SKY’S NO LONGER THE LIMIT Two new strategies place the Highlands and Islands at the heart of Scotland’s growing space industry. The region’s unique geographic advantages look set to establish a new sector based around commercial satellite launches.

The Scottish Government published ‘A Strategy for Space in Scotland’ in October, just weeks after the UK Government unveiled a similar plan.

Aiming to claim a £4bn share of the global space market and create 20,000 jobs by 2030, the Scottish strategy identifies a key role for the Highlands and Islands to host a variety of launch facilities.

With an increasing reliance on small satellites for everything from day-to-day communications to near-Earth observations tracking climate change, the rapidly expanding commercial space industry is keen to find new sites from which they can access low-earth orbits.

“There is an opportunity for us to be Europe’s leading location for the launch of small satellites,” explains HIE's director of strategic projects David Oxley. “Compared to space missions from previous generations, these satellites and launch vehicles are much smaller and need access to low Earth orbits, which are easily accessed from our region. With the launch vehicles requiring a vertical path north over water to allow them to safely jettison their boosters, the Highlands and Islands is one of the few regions in Europe which can offer suitable launch sites.”

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Work is underway to establish satellite launch sites across the region. Space Hub Sutherland on the A’ Mhòine peninsula has already received planning permission, with the first launches anticipated within the next 18 months. With the capacity to ramp up to 12 launches each year, satellites launched from Space Hub Sutherland are expected to support communications technologies as well as providing earth observation data.

A planning application for SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland, meanwhile, is in the final stage of consideration at time of writing, while Spaceport 1 in North Uist is in earlier stages of planning.

Each of these vertical launch sites offer different access opportunities, environmental conditions and payload capacity, and with explorations underway to establish the feasibility of a horizontal (i.e. shuttle-style) launch site at the disused Machrihanish RAF base in Argyll, it’s expected that the Highlands and Islands will soon offer a complete range of launch options to the commercial space industry.

DAVID OXLEY, HIE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PROJECTS

LAUNCHPAD FOR WIDER SECTORAL BENEFITS With existing specialisms in Edinburgh for data and informatics, and Glasgow manufacturing more small satellites than any other city in Europe, the vision is that the Highlands and Islands can carve out a role as a centre for excellence in the manufacture and launch of satellite delivery vehicles.

As an economic development agency, HIE spends a lot of time addressing the challenges of declining populations in remote rural areas. In this instance, however, the locations of the launch sites themselves make them an ideal match for the space industry.

Already, innovative manufacturer Orbex has come on board as launch partner for Space Hub Sutherland and established a manufacturing base in Moray, with a team of over 50 people working to create launch vehicles.

Our vision is that investment in these sites will support thriving communities, reverse local population decline and benefit our region as a whole.

“These highly skilled jobs are a massive benefit to communities in our region,” says David. “Space is undoubtedly a 21st century growth sector. Developing our capacity as a space region will help us attract and retain both people and investment.”

The Scottish Government’s new space strategy sets out a vision of the Highlands and Islands as a European leader in the manufacture and launch of satellite delivery vehicles. Under this ‘Team Scotland’ approach, operators, manufacturers, supply chain partners and academic institutions will work together to develop our region’s capabilities and compete against other countries in Europe for a bigger share of the commercial space industry.

LOW CARBON LEADERSHIP With environmental sustainability a key concern for Orbex, and Scotland’s commitment to reach carbon net zero by 2045, plans are underway to ensure that Space Hub Sutherland will be the greenest spaceport in Europe.

As technological advances allow smaller satellites, launch vehicles need to burn less fuel to send them into orbit.

Building on these carbon savings, Orbex will use biopropane, a non-fossil-based fuel which emits 90% less CO2 compared with traditional alternatives.

With the data industry in Edinburgh and Glasgow’s emergence as a satellite manufacturing centre, launch capability has been the missing link for the space industry in Scotland. Thanks to our unique geography, we have the opportunity to fill this gap and carve out a valuable niche. We’re already seeing the benefits of having the space sector in our region, even before first launch, and we want its innovation and ambition to deliver benefit across the Highlands and Islands.

Launch processes are also engineered to produce very little waste, with Orbex committing to retrieving and re-using the boosters which are jettisoned into the sea during launch.

The Sutherland site currently bears the scars of centuries of unmanaged peat removal. With a comprehensive peat management plan in place, HIE will ensure that large areas are restored. All peat which is moved to create the launchpad, and more besides, will be retained on site and continue to act as a natural means of carbon capture.

Far from the large industrial installations that characterised the early years of space missions, these open, accessible, low-profile launch sites will have very little impact on the landscape or their surrounding areas.

The spaceport has also been carefully designed to have a low impact on its surroundings, with buildings that blend with the landscape, the launch pad concealed from the road, minimal fencing, and public access preserved when launches are not underway. With just 15 seconds of sound and light expected to arise from each of a maximum of 12 annual launches, the operational impact is expected to be low year-round, while the sky is, apparently, no longer the limit for the potential benefits from the space industry lifting off in the Highlands and Islands.

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Space Hub Sutherland

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We’re planning to develop a programme reaching out to local schools and other educational institutions to energise young people about the STEM opportunities in the space industry. This can be a launchpad for high skilled jobs and thriving communities in rural areas, including Sutherland as the decommissioning of Dounreay continues.

We estimate that Space Hub Sutherland alone will create around 40 new high-quality jobs in the immediate area, with the capacity to support 250 jobs throughout the wider Highlands and Islands within five years of opening. Orbex has already expanded its operations, opening a second facility at The Enterprise Park Forres in Moray, and we expect to see other manufacturers and supply chain providers open up in the area to serve launch sites.

The Scottish Government’s vision is that Scotland will be ‘the best place on Earth to build a space business,’ and we’re determined to make the Highlands and Islands the gateway to this new frontier.

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ISLANDS PAVE THE WAY FOR GREEN RECOVERY Across the Highlands and Islands, businesses and communities are leading the way to a low carbon future. In the Outer Hebrides, and across many of our island communities, green projects and eco-friendly businesses are making the changes needed to protect our natural resources and improve efficiency and sustainability.

A LOW CARBON FOCUS IN FOOD AND DRINK The Temple Café in Northton, South Harris, is one island business that has gone from strength to strength through various COVID-19 lockdowns as a result of the owner’s unique approach to using local produce. It is now delivering an ecofriendly expansion with support from HIE.

The business has a large focus on low carbon and Amanda is committed to using eco-friendly products. All the packaging used is compostable. She plans to charge a small deposit for cups made from discarded husks of coffee beans and on return of the cups.

The Café is a bakery and deli business built near the remains of an old stone temple in Northton.. The business is owned by Amanda Saurin who relocated to Harris, from Sussex with her husband Julian after buying the café and the croft across the road in 2019.

While expanding the business, Amanda is keen to help reduce the number of vehicles that drive through Northton. She plans to offer bikes that people can cycle from the main road to the café, offering a discount as an incentive. She will also encourage the use of electric charging vehicles and plans to erect rapid charging points.

Amanda very quickly started running out of space in the café since reopening last year following restrictions. She says: “I started looking around for another building and found one in Leverburgh that had been empty for a few years. This additional building, which is not too far from our current Northton café, will allow us to grow the business and offer more food and drink ranges from locally sourced produce. We are delighted with the support received from HIE for our expansion project.”

The company secured up to £124,834 from HIE to develop and bring back into use the building in Leverburgh, 10 minutes away from Northton. The new building will offer the extra space needed to launch the coffee roastery, smokery and for food preparation, as well as to expand the drinks range.

In 2021, Temple Café has enjoyed a successful season under the new management and five people are currently employed there. It is expected that once the Leverburgh building is converted, six new jobs will be created.

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MEET SOME MORE OF THE #NETZERO HEROES HELPING IMAGINE NET ZERO IN THE HEBRIDES Everyone can play a part in reducing emissions and protecting the future of the unique natural environment we enjoy in the Highlands and Islands. Here, in the Outer Hebrides, and right across all the region’s islands, every change, large or small helps, so let us introduce you to some more of the local #netzeroheroes working to secure a better future for all.

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LEWIS: BRINGING TREES BACK TO THE ISLANDS The Point and Sandwick Trust is a charitable organisation based on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.

It funds community projects on the Isle of Lewis and beyond with income raised from the ownership and operation of the largest community wind farm in the UK, Beinn Ghrideag.

While the majority of the community support is concentrated within the local area of Point and Sandwick, an ambitious tree planting project extends right across the Outer Hebrides. Launched in 2016, The Woodland Croft Project is a partnership between the Trust, the Woodland Trust and the Forestry Commission.

Already, more than 100,000 trees have been planted across the islands, providing a significant boost to biodiversity, and ensuring that profits from the wind farm help to deliver further environmental improvements for the Outer Hebrides. The Trust plans to continue supporting the tree planting project for the entire 25-year life cycle of the wind farm, by which time mature trees will be able to seed new growth without active planting programmes.

Commenting on the many benefits of adding trees to the island landscape, Donald John Macsween, general manager of The Point and Sandwick Trust, says: “Being near the sea, among the trees, is wonderful for your mental health. It’s a very optimistic thing to plant a tree.”

SKYE: TRADITIONAL SKILLS AND INNOVATIVE THINKING Established in 1983, in the coastal village of Waternish on the Isle of Skye, Skyeskyns is now the sole remaining commercial woolskin tannery in Scotland.

The business was created by Clive and Lydia Hartwell, and now the second generation of the Hartwell family is helping to steer it through the 21st century, producing and stocking the highest quality, handcrafted sheepskins and other sustainably-made woollen clothing and home accessories.

In 2019 after successful trials, Skyeskyns moved away from using an extractive and finite mineral resource for tanning. By using mimosa tannin to tan sheepskins, the business is now adopting an ancient, hand crafted and natural process to create very soft, high-quality leather in the most environmentally sustainable way possible.

In addition, the company recycles at every opportunity and uses green electricity suppliers at its tannery, visitor centre and shop. The tannery uses a lot of hot water, and a new energy-efficient gas boiler installed recently will be augmented by solar panels. Skyeskyns also installed an electric car charging point just outside the tannery, which is now used by locals and visitors.

“We are always looking at ways to squeeze carbon out of the process and out of our business,” explains Dave Till, general manager at Skyeskyns. “By ensuring our operations are as efficient as possible, and by making green choices in terms of energy and our suppliers, we have continued to improve the sustainability of our business in recent years.”

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BARRA: SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION WITH NATURAL RESOURCES Coimhearsnachd Bharraidh agus Bhatarsaidh (CBaB) Ltd is a community company located on Barra.

It supports sustainable community development and rural regeneration on Barra and Vatersay, the two most southerly inhabited islands of the Outer Hebrides.

CBaB’s activities have been varied over the years and have included the development of a marina, a wind turbine, various coastal erosion prevention works, and a range of renewable energy initiatives. CBaB is currently progressing a pilot seaweed farm, a hydrogen production proposal and an active travel promenade for the Herring Walk in Castlebay.

CBaB’s primary focus for low carbon is renewable energy and energy efficiency. It manages the operation of the community wind turbine, along with a community benefit fund which distributes surplus funding generated by the wind turbine. It is actively involved in a range of projects linked to the local energy plan – which was developed to enable the Barra and Vatersay community to look at its existing and future energy power, heat and transport needs and determine priorities for action.

As Euan Scott, Project Officer at CBaB, explains: “Local energy production offers potential to stimulate the local economy. But we need more statutory involvement devolved to local authorities, who can oversee the production and consumption of energy within their areas and ensure it is aligned with planning in respect of carbon transitioning and net zero targets.”

TIREE: MOVING FROM THE FAST LANE TO SLOW FASHION Lots of people may dream of packing in the rat race and moving to an island off the Scottish coast – but Jason and Yvonne Lancaster actually did it.

In late 2018 they moved from London, where they ran a successful consulting company, to the small island of Tiree in the Inner Hebrides. They were drawn by the stunning landscapes and the hope of a better - paced and more sustainable life.

There, in 2019, they set up WELAN – a slow fashion, eco-conscious business making handmade hats from the fleece of their flock of orphaned sheep.

Sustainability, traditional values and locality sit at the heart of the WELAN ethos, and every decision is based on these. Furthermore, 10% of their profits go to Tiree Made, a fund they set up to support other people who want to move and create their own inspiring life on Tiree.

WELAN has lofty growth ambitions – and these are firmly in line with its low carbon, local ethos. The business grew out of ethical and sustainable ideals.

Jason and Yvonne realised that every year thousands of fleeces are shipped off the island, and they wanted to find a way to keep them on Tiree, reduce the carbon footprint, and make the most of what they have. As Yvonne says: “We constantly analyse every part of the chain, and every aspect of what we do, to have less impact on the world.”

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THA TAIC DEATAMACH AIRSON EADAR-GHLUASAD CARBON ÌOSAL EILEANAN Màiri Bhochanan, àrd-mhanaidsear leasachaidh aig sgioba HIE ann an Innse Gall, mar aon den 29 cosnaiche aig HIE a cheumnaich mar ghaisgeach gnàth-shìde.

Tha i a’ faicinn an ath-shlànachaidh uaine agus an t-eadar-ghluasad gu roinn càrbonneodrach, deatamach do Innse Gall, gu h-àraid a thaobh ’s gu bheil mòran de na buaidhean as motha ann an atharrachadh gnàth-shìde air am faicinn agus air am faireachdainn sna h-eileanan againn.

Tha sinn ag obair le gnothachasan agus buidhnean coimhearsnachd sna h-eileanan gus maoineachadh is taic dìreach a thoirt do pròiseactan uaine air an stiùireadh, agus còmhla ri ar com-pàirtichean gus càch a chuideachadh airson diofar a dhèanamh.

Tha e mìorbhaileach a bhith a’ faicinn a leithid de dh’iomairtean ùra a tha a’ toirt chothroman air rothairean dealain fhaotainn air màl agus puingean neartachaidh a chleachdadh air feadh nan eilean, a’ toirt taic don dà chuid coimhearsnachdan ionadail agus so-ruigsinneachd do luchd-turais.

Airson lùghdachadh ann an gasaichean millteach a thachairt, ma tha Alba airson neoini- lom a ruighinn ann an 2045, tha againn uile ri ar n-oidhirp fhìn a chur an gnìomh ann an ìsleachadh. Tha sinn glè thoilichte a bhith comasach air taic a thoirt do mhòran de ar gnothachasan agus buidhnean coimhearsnachd sna h-eileanan, agus tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ris na buannachdan fhaicinn a’ tighinn am bàrr mar a bhios na pròiseactan a’ tighinn gu bith.

Theirigibh an sàs ann a bhith ag obair a dh’ionnsaigh Alba neoini-lom. Lorgaibh comhairle, taic agus sgeulachdan brosnachail air an làraich-lìn againn.

Tha sinn air mòran phròiseactan ath-shlànachaidh uaine air an stiùireadh tron choimhearsnachd fhaicinn a’ lìbhrigeadh tasgadh ann am pròiseactan còmhdhail càrbon ìosal, biadh is seamhachd agus saorsa bho sgudal.

Ann an Innse Gall fhèin, tha buidheann coimhearsnachd Comunn Eachdraidh Nis a’ stàlachadh uidheam-teasachaidh càrbon ìosal san ionad dualchais, sa chafaidh agus san àite cruinneachaidh aca. Tha Urras Coimhearsnachd Eige a’ leasachadh pròiseact gus teasachadh càrbon ìosal a sholarachadh do fhrasan-nighe agus goireasan nigheadaireachd sa choimhearsnachd.

SUPPORT IS KEY FOR ISLANDS’ LOW CARBON TRANSITION Mairi Buchanan from HIE’s Innse Gall area team is one of the organisation’s 29 climate champions. She sees the green recovery and the transition to a carbon-neutral region as pivotal for the Hebrides, especially as many of the impacts of climate change are seen on our islands. We all need to play our part if Scotland is to reach net zero by 2045.

Find advice, support and inspiring stories on our website here.

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Beach Benbecula, Outer Hebrides

SPARKING THE TRANSITION TO LOW CARBON ENERGY IN THE OUTER HEBRIDES AND BEYOND What would ideal energy systems look like in the Outer Hebrides in the next 15-20 years – and how can we get there? That’s the question at the heart of a new Europewide project, and HIE is helping provide the answers.

The Outer Hebrides has been chosen to represent the Highlands and Islands in an exciting new three-year project to identify a vision and support the transition to low carbon energy. The Responsible Research and Innovation Policy Experimentations for Energy Transition (RIPEET) is bringing together communities, business, academia, government and the environmental sector to explore how to accelerate sustainable energy innovations and solutions.

Three pilot regions have been chosen – the Outer Hebrides, Ostrobothnia in Finland and Extremadura in Spain. HIE and Community Energy Scotland are working together to deliver the Scottish part of the project, which kicked off in summer 2021 with the creation of a Transition Lab of stakeholders from across the Outer Hebrides.

The Transition Lab is exploring what regional energy systems could look like in the future, setting out a vision, and shaping and creating change. Throughout the project, research will be carried out to understand what common policies, drivers and processes are needed to promote the transition.

RIPEET includes €50,000 funding for an open call for solutions to meet an identified pressing regional energy need. This could be anything from a social or technological innovation to the creation of a new organisation or piece of research.

“We’re looking to develop a methodology for energy transition and innovation which is really inclusive, accessible and rooted in the needs of the local area,” explains Sarah Marshall, RIPEET senior project manager at HIE. “It’s about putting local people at the heart of sparking change, identifying the steps that will help us transition to low carbon, and setting out the priorities.”

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SYNERGIES AND SHARED AIMS RIPEET is now one of many small and large projects, organisations and individuals working to combat climate change in all kinds of innovative and creative ways. Linking with similar projects, sharing connections, research and learnings, and benefiting from the groundwork laid, has already proven invaluable.

Rona Mackay, head of operations and governance at Community Energy Scotland, is involved with many of the projects in the region and is eager to take advantage of these synergies.

“We’re currently working on the Uist Local Energy Plan (ULEP), along with a steering group from the local community and, of course, it makes absolute sense to work up this plan at the same time as RIPEET,” Rona explains.

“RIPEET is on a different scale – it’s much heavier on the research side, and more academic. The ULEP can piggy-back on this research and knowledge, and vice-versa, with projects coming out of the ULEP that could potentially come under the umbrella of RIPEET.” Likewise, the Islands Centre for Net Zero, which is funded by the Scottish Islands Growth Deal, is a research and technical facilitator to help Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides achieve net zero carbon energy by 2030. Again there is shared focus and overlap with RIPEET, which Rona is keen to capitalise on.

MUTUAL LEARNINGS TO STIMULATE INNOVATION The location for RIPEET’s Finnish pilot, Ostrobothnia, is home to a vibrant energy cluster. EnergyVaasa is the largest energy technology hub in the Nordic countries, and the city of Vaasa is known as the energy capital of the Nordics. Many energy researchers, companies and developers are located in the region, and there is excellent potential for renewable energy resources, including wind power, smart grids, biofuels and geothermal energy.

The Ostrobothnian RIPEET partners – the University of Vaasa, Technology Centre Merinova and the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia – are making the most of being based in the thick of Finland’s energy revolution, enabling them to connect with key stakeholders and link with current strategic work and projects already underway.

“The council is currently updating the regional strategy and work has already started, with certain priorities already defined,” says senior researcher Mona Enell-Nilsson from the University of Vaasa.

“It’s necessary and sensible to link RIPEET with this type of strategy work so we are sharing knowledge and moving forward together.

OSTROBOTHNIA

OUTER HEBRIDES

EXTREMADURA

“We see a huge potential in mutual learning from the other pilots as we progress through the project. It’s always valuable to make new connections and a fresh international network of people and organisations who we haven’t co-operated with in the past.

It’s not just about the tech solutions, it’s about getting different stakeholders on board and working in a more collaborative way.”

As the project gathers pace over the coming months, RIPEET should stimulate developments and innovations that will have a positive impact for years to come.

As Sarah Marshall concludes, “We’re hoping that there will be loads of great collaborative learning which can be applied across the HIE area and beyond to help make the transition to net zero much more accessible across Scotland and further afield.”

THE RIPEET PROJECT RIPEET is being funded from the EU’s largest ever research and innovation programme, the €80bn Horizon 2020, with 11 European partners. As well as the Highlands and Islands, RIPEET is working with project partners from across Europe, with further pilot projects taking place in Extremadura in Spain and Ostrobothnia in Finland.

The first meeting of the Outer Hebrides RIPEET Transition Lab was held virtually in June 2021 with the aim of introducing the project. Representatives took part from GreenspaceLive, Tighean Innse Gall, UHI – Lews Castle College, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Horshader Development Trust, Barra and Vatersay Community Ltd, Community Land Outer Hebrides, the Galson Estate Trust and SSEN. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under H2020SwafS-2018-2020 / H2020-SwafS-2020-1 | Grant 17 Agreement No. 101006295.

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION DRIVING INNOVATION IN ARGYLL AND THE WEST HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS An ambitious programme linking businesses in Argyll and the West Highlands and Islands with businesses and academics in Ireland has passed a major funding milestone.

Supported by European Regional Development Funds through the Interreg VA Cross Border Programme and delivered locally by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Co-Innovate has now awarded more than €1m (£850,000) in innovation grant support.

Business growth can be challenging for companies in rural communities with limited access to peer support and expert advice, but the Co-Innovate programme is demonstrating the transformative effect of innovation on business growth.

Distributing funding and advice, Co-Innovate seeks to stimulate innovation in some of the region’s most rural businesses and supports them to make new connections.

“Innovation isn’t always about radical market disruption or undertaking complex technical developments,” explains Vicki Hazley, HIE's Co-Innovate programme manager. “Innovation also means seeing things differently, working in new ways and with different people. It always includes some degree of risk, which makes it an investment requiring careful planning and management.

“Innovation goes beyond having a great idea – it’s about getting solutions to customers in a commercially sustainable way. That’s the hard part and that’s where Co-Innovate support is targeted.

We’ve been able to make connections between businesses, inspire innovative thinking and provide practical tools.”

These new connections are driving economic development, with £18m additional turnover and 46 additional jobs expected to be created in Co-Innovate supported businesses by 2025.

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Participating businesses from the Outer Hebrides, Skye and Lochalsh, Lochaber and Argyll and the Islands were able to access advice through introductory workshops, half-day innovation consultation and audit sessions, and mentoring targeted at growing businesses and those with potential to scale internationally.

Higher level support was also available to facilitate collaboration and provide funding for research and development. The grants for business and academia projects match local businesses with academic researchers in Ireland for a 12-month R&D project. HIE provides 50% salary funding for an R&D project manager, supporting highly skilled local jobs, and meets the full cost of up to 24 days of academic support. Participating businesses retain their valuable intellectual property.

Grants for larger scale collaborative R&D projects involve matching multiple businesses from participating areas in Ireland and Scotland, with some projects also including academic partners.

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businesses have attended online or in-person workshops

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businesses have accessed 1-to-1 advice

“Through our business-academia R&D grant funding, eight new highly skilled project manager jobs have already been created, with a further post safeguarded,” says Vicki.

Joanna Peteranna, interim area manager for Innse Gall, says: “Businesses have had to adapt to a rapidly changing trading environment, and Co-Innovate has helped companies focus on innovation by providing staff and academic resources to progress their ideas towards commercialisation. The new project manager posts have enabled three young people to relocate to our area, supporting our aim to increase the working age population in the Outer Hebrides.”

With the Co-Innovate programme being led by InterTradeIreland and delivered in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, Enterprise Northern Ireland, East Border Region Ltd and a network of local enterprise offices in Ireland’s border region, HIE is walking the walk of cross-border collaboration.

Lorna Gregson-MacLeod, head of planning and partnerships, says: “HIE has always strongly valued the opportunities and connections made through transnational projects and EU funding. Working closely with European and international partners with similar characteristics to our own is vital to learn from each other, transfer good practice, collaborate on solutions and combine our competences and skills. We are committed to finding ways of continuing these strong partnerships and opportunities in the future.”

Find out more: hie.co.uk/co-innovate

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businesses have received mentorships

TAIC DO ÙR-GHNÀTHACHADH GUS FÀS A STIÙIREADH Tha am prògram Co-Innovate ag atharrachadh fàs ann an gnìomhachasan. The ceanglaichean ùra a’ stiùireadh leasachadh eaconamach le luach malairt a bharrachd de £18m agus dùil gum bi 46 obraichean a bharrachd air an cruthachadh ann an gnìomhachasan le taic Co-Innovate ro 2025.

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INNOVATION IS THE TASK AT HAND FOR BC TECHNOLOGIES Brendon Wallace, a Partner at BC Technologies in Dunoon, is well aware of the benefits and limitations of many of the task and project management software solutions on the market.

Most software fails to be adopted consistently due to differences in how people within organisations use it. Brendon realised the opportunity for a more dynamic solution powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Having resolved to build this system to better manage client projects and run his own business, Brendon was invited to a CoInnovate workshop by his HIE account manager to investigate the possibility of commercialising his vision.

“We realised our customers had many of the same frustrations with traditional systems,” explains Brendon. “We were matched with Dr Gerard McCloskey of the Letterkenny Institute of Technology to help examine how AI could enhance the system.

“We’re designing a tool which learns the best way to interact with each user, tailoring alerts to make sure work is completed smoothly and on time. As well as streamlining our own workflows, selling subscriptions to this product will open new revenue streams. Our project manager post is part-funded by HIE and we’ve recruited a new junior developer to help bring this project to life.”

IDEAS TO POWER THE FUTURE AT OCEAN KINETICS With Argyll containing more coastline than France, the region was a logical destination for the expansion of Shetland-headquartered marine engineering firm Ocean Kinetics and their work to create renewable energy power management systems for fish farm feed barges.

“Being part of Co-Innovate means this project is at least a year or two further on than it would have been,” explains John Henderson, managing director of Ocean Kinetics, “and it also provided a real boost to our plans to establish a base in Argyll.”

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A collaboration with MMG Welding Ltd from Donegal and Stortera Ltd from Edinburgh, this year-long project has benefited from a HIE grant of over £129,000. The partners are developing battery storage systems capable of being recharged at sea with clean energy via lightweight subsea cables, removing the industry’s reliance on diesel-powered generators. With plans to commercialise the technology in both Scotland and Ireland, the project will be commercially beneficial to the participants as well as helping to reduce the carbon emissions of the fish farming industry.

LIGHTBULB MOMENTS FOR ENERGY MUTUAL Fort William based energy management consultancy Energy Mutual helps operators of small, distributed energy systems – such as community hydro schemes, farm biomass systems and local authority operated heat pumps – learn and apply efficiency lessons from big energy operators.

Most smaller operators have no in-house capacity to capture these lessons, preventing them from maximising power generation and extending the useful life of their equipment.

Dr Kyle Smith, Founder of Energy Mutual, resolved to investigate a software solution to automate this learning for smaller operators. Joining the Co-Innovate programme after graduating from the HIE Pathfinder business accelerator programme, Kyle was matched with Dr Nick Timmons from the Letterkenny Institute of Technology to develop a library of trackable metrics for the full range of energy assets small-scale operators might deploy.

“The programme is going really well,” reports Kyle. “Having HIE funding to take on an experienced software developer has really accelerated things. We’re aiming to have a commercially viable online energy asset management platform to take to the market in early 2022.”

7-22 SYSTEMS LTD: BUILDING A GREENER FUTURE

L to R: Adam Keltie (Co-Innovate funded Production and Innovation Manager), Alex Durie, Janice Fraser, Robert Fraser ( the three 7-22 Systems founders) and Ronald John Maclean, joiner on the prototyping project.

From limited site access to the unpredictability of building in exposed areas, construction has traditionally been challenging in rural communities.

With decades of combined experience, senior partners at a Uist architecture practice knew there must be a better way to build. Recognising the increasing need for more environmentally sustainable structures, they created 7-22 Systems Ltd to investigate and commercialise ways to do just that.

Co-Innovate funding supports the employment of a production and innovation manager, the first of 7-22’s quality green jobs. Academic input from Dr Conan O'Ceallaigh of the National University of Ireland Galway is supporting 7-22 to make significant progress on commercialising their pioneering factory-constructed timber building system; a suite of superinsulated components with ease of manual handling making it equally suited to tight city plots and remote rural sites.

Co-Founder Robert Fraser is delighted with progress so far.

“If it wasn’t for Co-Innovate, we’d be nowhere near this far down the line," he says. "It’s been a real catalyst. Our innovative system is designed for enhanced accuracy and reduced waste. This lends itself to future factory automation, maximising cost efficiency and productivity, and over time, franchising our process will allow 7-22 to reach its full potential."

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MOVING TOWARDS DESTINATION NET ZERO A £1.47m investment package is set to support tourism businesses and local communities in the Highlands and Islands on the vital journey to a greener and stronger future.

With climate change on everyone’s minds, green tourism in the Highlands and Islands has been given a boost with a new investment package from the Scottish Government.

Destination Net Zero is a £4m programme to support tourism businesses, communities and destinations as they move to a more sustainable, profitable and low carbon future. Some £1.47m will be invested in the Highlands and Islands.

A STUNNING ENVIRONMENT, A STRONGER FUTURE The Highlands and Islands tourism sector draws heavily on the attraction of the region’s stunning natural environment – which is already feeling the effects of the world’s climate emergency. As we adapt to the climate change challenge, we will not only meet ambitious Scottish net zero targets and contribute to a healthier planet, but we will seek to attract higher value, more responsible visitors – which means a stronger future for our businesses and communities.

People are increasingly opting for sustainable experiences, so going greener and speeding up the adoption of sustainable production and consumption will benefit the Highlands and Islands in more ways than one.

HIE is delivering the programme of support across the region, and a number of strategic projects are benefiting from the funding. One such project is the rebuild of the Fair Isle Bird Observatory, which has received almost £200,000 worth of Destination Net Zero funding. This will go towards creating a new, sustainable and energy-efficient building, using power from the island’s community-owned renewable energy grid as well as from the building’s own solar panels. Nevis Range, the Lecht and Glencoe mountain ranges are also benefiting from support, as is the cycling and e-bike sector.

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Nevis range ski centre.

Photo credit: VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins

A LIFT FOR MOUNTAIN RESORTS’ NET ZERO AMBITIONS Mountain ranges in the Highlands attract thousands of visitors a year from home and abroad,playing a vital role in our tourism industry. The snowsports industry in Scotland employs over 1,000 people and makes a £31m contribution to the economy.

In the summer season, mountain resorts attract visitors as part of the growing demand to use chairlifts and other facilities to access trails and biking routes, and to pursue nature-based experiences.

But mountain ranges are also considerable consumers of energy. Redevelopment of the visitor experiences with sustainability and net zero at the heart of the operations showcases the region’s resorts as an environmentally conscious choice, driving up visitor numbers and attracting more people to the local areas.

This is why three mountain resorts in the Highlands are major recipients of the Destination Net Zero package of support.

The significant investments will not only support the net zero ambitions of the three resorts but will increase the provision of critical infrastructure and services for visitors all year round. Activities being funded include better overnight parking facilities, responsible waste disposal, electric vehicle charging points, a conversion to paperless ticketing and climate change educational offerings for young people.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME...

The Destination Net Zero programme is a key part of the Scottish Government’s wider £25m Tourism Recovery Programme. Destination Net Zero is being delivered on behalf of the Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group by HIE, VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise and partners. The programme includes new information and advice for businesses and communities on transitioning to low carbon, an awareness raising campaign and funding support.

NEVIS RANGE

GLENCOE SKI CENTRE

Nevis Range Mountain Resort is a huge attraction for visitors from the UK and beyond during both the winter and summer months. The centre has secured an investment of £800,000 towards major renovation work, with £500,000 coming from the Destination Net Zero programme to support Nevis Range’s continuing journey to net zero.

A £2m project to transform this major tourist attraction in Lochaber has secured up to £500,000 of funding from HIE, with £250,000 from Destination Net Zero to support Glencoe Ski Centre’s transition to low carbon.

Work has begun on a 22-bedroom hotel, 24-berth bunkhouse, bar and restaurant, bike shop, children’s activity centre, childcare facilities, as well as a covered courtyard with event space. These developments will be built to minimise carbon impact, with a high degree of insulation, low energy lighting and solar panels for power. Initiatives like this are incredibly important in the transition to a net zero economy.

The new facilities are also expected to create up to 50 additional full and part-time jobs.

Chris O’Brien, managing director of Nevis Range, says: “Net zero and climate change are at the top of our agenda as we continue to develop. Electric vehicle charge points, hydro power and a locally sourced produce strategy are just the beginning for us.

We are currently engaged in a carbon footprint analysis study that will help us roadmap the best way for us to achieve net zero status.

“This project is possible due to the support of HIE. I’m delighted that both parties share a vision for the creation of quality, sustainable adventure tourism experiences right here in the outdoor capital of the UK.”

Glencoe Mountain Range.

Photo credit: VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins

The centre is putting the funds towards the construction of a new base station, following the demolition of the fire-damaged building. The new and improved premises will house a bar and café and will be built to significantly reduce energy consumption. A number of elements, such as air source heating, modern standards of insulation and energy-efficient lighting, will all help the centre to lower its carbon footprint.

The new facilities are also expected to create an extra four full-time jobs.

HIE’s area manager for Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross, Alastair Nicolson, says: “Glencoe Ski Centre is of course an incredibly popular spot for winter sports enthusiasts, and a great tourist attraction all year round. We are delighted to be able to help fund the construction of a new facility.

“This development will enhance the appeal of Lochaber as one of the UK’s top adventure tourism destinations, while also providing new employment opportunities and supporting the centre’s journey to net zero.”

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L-R: Ian Sykes, Nevis Range chairman; Chris O’Brien, Nevis Range managing director; Alastair Nicolson and Alison Gainsford from HIE; and John Sutherland Nevis Range activities director. Photo Credit: Trevor Martin/Nevis Range

THE LECHT SKI CENTRE

IMPROVED CYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE AND E-BIKE FACILITIES

A project to transform the Lecht Ski Centre into a year-round attraction has secured more than £73,000 from Destination Net Zero. This will be used to install electric vehicle charging points, build a new play park, improve catering provision and create a new family-friendly mountain bike run. The Lecht is also hoping to transition from paper-based ticketing to a fully automated digital ticketing system, reducing paper waste.

Cycling had a real resurgence during lockdown, with families, novices and enthusiasts all taking to roads and trails and discovering – or rediscovering – Scotland’s stunning outdoor landscapes while keeping active. We are seeing a huge upswing in visitors looking for green options that engage in the natural environment and boost wellbeing. The tourism sector has a fantastic opportunity to support Scotland’s ambition to be a net zero destination through enhanced cycle infrastructure and e-bike availability.

This project will support the Lecht to diversify from a predominantly winter snowsport destination to a year-round adventure tourism destination, enhancing the area’s capacity to support responsible tourism.

Angie Smith, HIE’s head of business growth for Moray, says: “We’ve been working with the Lecht for a number of years now and it is an incredibly important part of Scotland’s wider ski industry and tourism sector.

“The centre provides valuable rural employment, and these developments will safeguard jobs while helping drive tourism’s transition to net zero.”

This is why Destination Net Zero funding has been earmarked for a range of community and social enterprise-led bike infrastructure assets, e-bike charging points and cycle networks at rural visitor locations and community hubs across the Highlands and Islands. Some of the projects which are being supported are introduced on the following page, but as Anna Miller, head of tourism for HIE, explains, they all have much in common.

“The projects should encourage and enable the use of net zero transport through the use of bikes, e-bikes and improved infrastructure. They will seek to draw tourists away from areas of overpressure and environmental sensitivity and spread visitors across communities and destinations.

“We hope that the projects will also act as a showcase and be a catalyst for increased awareness and adoption of net zero approaches. It’s fantastic that Destination Net Zero funding can be used to support the enhancement of the cycling and e-bike sector, while contributing to our efforts to tackle climate change and boost our drive towards a low-carbon, sustainable tourism future.”

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CARLOWAY ESTATE TRUST (CET):

Photo credit: Colin Keldie

CET is working with community groups and local tourist attractions to offer e-bikes and develop a strategic visitor cycle route which links famous visitor attractions and cultural assets, including the Callanish Stones, Gearrannan Blackhouse village and the Carloway Broch. With the help of £13,115 in funding, CET will purchase a fleet of e-bikes, safety gear and repair kits.

This investment goes hand-in-hand with CET’s other low carbon tourism activities, including working with academic partners to develop a digitally interactive guide to connect key cultural and heritage information between and at each attraction. Locals and tourists alike will benefit from use of the e-bikes, and digital brochures will also be available to reduce the carbon impact of printing physical brochures.

THE PICKAQUOY CENTRE TRUST:

Photo credit: North Harris Trust

The investment will provide visitors with access to e-bikes as part of their stay at the centre’s popular campsite, which draws around 8,000 campers every year. This will lower visitors’ use of their own vehicles for travelling while in Orkney, reducing fuel use and congestion around the centre and on routes to popular tourist attractions. The project will also provide campsite users with an opportunity to experience e-bikes and may encourage them to use them more in the future.

WHY GREEN TOURISM MATTERS TO THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS Tourism is central to Highlands and Islands life, providing thousands of jobs and attracting thousands of visitors all year round. It sustains many of our local, regional and island economies and communities.

It’s vital that the sector takes decisive action in moving towards a more sustainable future, transitioning from carbon-intensive to low-carbon methods of delivering experiences. We hope that tourism can lead the way in moving to a greener tomorrow, rebalancing our relationship with nature and supporting stronger businesses and community wellbeing.

We are delighted to be supporting the region’s tourism industry on the path to net zero and recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. The cluster of strategic investments will deliver improved visitor experiences, while maximising lower carbon construction methods and processes, including air source heating, local water sources and building to modern net zero standards. This will contribute to a greener sector which demonstrates commitment to Scotland’s net zero agenda and its tourism strategy, Scotland Outlook 2030.

Anna Miller, head of tourism, HIE

NORTH HARRIS ARDVOURLIE BIKE TRAILS: The overall development and construction of a series of downhill all-ability mountain bike trails at Ardvourlie in North Harris, within community-owned woodland and led by the North Harris Community Trust. Supported by a £65,574 investment, the developments will deliver the first phase of the project in the form of electric vehicle (EV) charge point infrastructure, pathway upgrades, new site furniture, improved signage and site preparation works for further development. A major benefit of the trail will be moving the popular visitor walking and cycling route The Hebridean Way off the very busy road – leading to a much better, safer experience.

WOODLAND WHEELS: The construction of a bike pump track on community-owned land in the Boat of Garten is being assisted with an investment of £26,817. Currently disused wasteland, the redeveloped space will be used for the benefit of visitors and the community, including youth groups and sports events.

THA TURASACHD UAINE CUDROMACH SAN SGÌRE Tha turasachd aig cridhe beath na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, a’ toirt seachad mìltean de dh’obraichean agus a’ tàladh mìltean de luchd-tadhail fad na bliadhna. Bidh e a’ cumail suas mòran de na h-eaconamaidhean agus na coimhearsnachdan ionadail, roinneil agus eileanach againn. Tha sinn air leth toilichte a bhith a’ toirt taic do ghnìomhachas turasachd na sgìre air an t-slighe gu neoni-lom mar a bhios sinn a’ faighinn air ais bho bhuaidhean COVID-19.

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SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS:

GO GREEN WITH YOUR DIGITAL CARBON FOOTPRINT Are your digital habits sustainable?

As our lives become increasingly dominated by technology, it’s all too easy to think that the invisible data floating in the cloud powering an endless stream of services has little to no impact on the environment.

But in fact, the opposite is true. When adding up the impact of the internet, the massive infrastructure used to power it, the devices we use to access it, and the data required to support the services we use, our digital carbon footprint places all too high a toll on the planet’s resources.

DID YOU KNOW: digital CO2 emissions are estimated to be 3.7% of the global emissions total, comparable to the global aviation industry.

Around the globe, day to day living is empowered by data.

From our business activities to home entertainment and leisure activities they all, somewhat blindly, have an impact on the environment. Data centres across the globe enable our digital activity. Data centres consume vast amounts of electricity to power the thousands of computers they contain and a substantial amount of water in their cooling processes.

DID YOU KNOW: a typical data centre uses 3-5 million gallons of water per day - the same as a city of 30,000-50,000 people.

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The good news is that there are ways to limit the carbon emissions produced by our digital activities. A 2019 study found that 64 billion unnecessary emails are sent every day in the UK. The study found that cutting out just one email per person per day could save 16 tonnes of carbon emissions, saving 2,750 trees processing unnecessary pollution. Finding ways to limit email use can reduce your digital carbon footprint, so by not routinely hitting ‘reply all’ or sending a thank you email you’re not being rude, you’re helping to save the planet!

DID YOU KNOW: every email sent has an estimated carbon footprint of 4g CO2, rising to 50g with large attachments.

With some simple tweaks, it’s also possible to reduce your website’s carbon footprint. Many of these, such as ensuring your website is optimised for mobile viewing, are also recommended for improving customer experience, meaning businesses don’t have to choose between success and sustainability.

DID YOU KNOW: just one page view on an average website produces the equivalent of 1.76g of carbon. On a site gaining 10,000 monthly page views, that’s an annual total of 211kg – as much as 10 trees can absorb in one year.

Top tips to reduce your website’s carbon footprint:

1 2 3 4 5

CHOOSE GREENER WEBSITE HOSTING Green website hosts use renewable energy to power their servers and data centres, significantly reducing carbon emissions. Enter your URL at www.websitecarbon.com to check if you currently receive green hosting, and if not, check your green hosting options at www.thegreenwebfoundation.org/directory.

HELP YOUR CUSTOMERS FIND WHAT THEY NEED The more time your customers have to spend searching your website for the information they need, the more likely it is that they’ll leave – and the more carbon their activities will emit in the meantime. Help your website visitors find what they’re looking for with effective search engine optimisation (SEO) and clear navigational menus.

REDUCE THE DATA DEMAND OF WEBSITE IMAGES Images use more data than text, so consider carefully how you use them on your site. Using graphic design elements such as Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG files) can be more efficient than using photos, but where photos are needed to add value for your readers, use WEBP, a modern file format that can reduce image size by as much as 30%. If your site doesn’t yet support that format, try to use a JPEG, PNG or GIF. You can also keep image files as small as possible without losing quality with compression tools such as ImageOptim, Tiny PNG or ShortPixel.

ENSURE EFFICIENT USE OF VIDEO Auto-playing videos wastes data, particularly when visitors may have tabs open in the background and not even see it play. If you choose to use video on your site, disable autoplay and use embedded media players like YouTube. YouTube are actively committed to a sustainable future and are working towards net zero operations.

STREAMLINE YOUR TEXT Using custom fonts or multiple styles such as bold, underlined and italic text requires more data to be processed to show your website content to users, and therefore emits more carbon. Try to keep different font styles to a minimum.

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WHY I LOVE RUNNING MY BUSINESS IN THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS

ROD READ Founder and director at Windswept and Interesting Ltd WHY IS WINDSWEPT AND INTERESTING BASED IN SHETLAND? My wife Kirsty got the job as Medical Director for NHS Shetland, which was a great opportunity. Shetland looked like a great place for Windswept and Interesting to continue to develop. It’s a great open space with lots of wind, so we upped and moved from Lewis just over a year ago.

Rod Read, inventor of Daisy Kite Turbine Networks, tells us why Shetland is the ideal place to evolve and scale his network kite flying wind turbines.

Originally from the Isle of Lewis, Rod grew up windsurfing and sailing in Stornoway harbour before choosing Aberdeen University – where he studied electrical and electronic engineering – purely for its beach location. . Having always wanted to be involved in building more efficient machines, it was the birth of his children that was a real driver for moving forward with his ideas and passions.

With his background in engineering and his love of wind-driven sports, kite energy naturally followed.

The people here are technically adept, out of necessity, and we have a lot of the skills we need on the island. There’s actually nothing mega-technical about making the kites. For example, the tech is similar to that used in fishing nets.

The rotor blades are made from material similar to that used in the wings of small model aircraft, and there’s lots of that in the building industry here. And boat builders on the island use the same materials that go into the rigid tips.

A big part of our current phase is looking at automation, and for this we need to use progressive technology like robotics. We have lots of young engineers in Shetland with these skills – there’s a great standard of education here.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS IN SHETLAND? Good craic, really! Folks have been so welcoming. They’re interested and approachable – they want to know what’s going on. There’s a big respect for ecology and the environment here, and our low carbon kite energy fits that ethos very well.

Rod honed his craft as a hobby for many years before setting up Windswept and Interesting in 2012 with the aim of making and scaling the world’s most ecologically sound wind turbine.

WHAT CHALLENGES DOES YOUR LOCATION PRESENT AND HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME THEM? Honestly, not very much. One small thing is perhaps communication with experts in certain fields, though that’s been something everyone’s had to overcome this year, and of course technology has made it easier. I also try to live a very low-carbon lifestyle, so frequently visiting family in Lewis is tricky with that in mind. Again, technology has made seeing and speaking to them so much easier.

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We drive an electric van and our grid energy is very clean so I don’t worry about the miles. With the kite in the back, the van can be energy independent, for example, I can stop and recharge the battery with kite power if necessary. But that’s still a bit of a mission for now.

HOW HAS HIE SUPPORTED YOUR BUSINESS TO THRIVE IN SHETLAND? HIE has been really helpful with advice and support in all kinds of areas, particularly with applying for funding, and arranging days for various people to get together. Their financial support has also been invaluable, and part of that has been in emboldening others to finance us. It gives us credibility and shows that due diligence has been carried out. I’m not just a guy playing with a toy kite! We’re now also backed from the Shell GameChanger programme and Shetland Islands Council.

This funding, together with HIE’s, has enabled the next phase of development, where we’re working on automation to enable us to scale up. I’ve had a couple of people contracting for me, but I’m now able to employ a software engineer and a business finance consultant. All of this helps me integrate into the community as well as furthering our aims as a company.

WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT SHETLAND AS A BUSINESS LOCATION? We have access to the North Sea, something the island thrives on. Almost half the fish landed in the UK is caught within 100 nautical miles of Shetland! As someone who’s looking at potential developments for offshore wind, the location couldn’t be better.

WALK US THROUGH YOUR IDEAL WORK DAY… I really enjoy concept development work. I use parametric development and 3D software to help me with kite sketching so I can see how new concepts will look and if they’ll work. And, of course, there’s nothing better than launching a kite – a day out flying is always a good day!

CAN YOU TELL US IN THREE WORDS WHY YOU LOVE RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS IN SHETLAND? For the future.

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Thoir do bheachd air an ath eagran den Phlana Ghàidhlig again!

Tha sinn an dràsta a’ conaltradh ris a’ phoball mu na beachdan aca air an dreach plana Gàidhlig 2022-27 agus bu mhath leinn do bheachdan a chluinntinn cuideachd.

Have your say on the next edition of our Gaelic Plan!

We are currently consulting the public on their views of our draft Gaelic plan 2022-27 and we would like to hear your thoughts too.

AR DEALAS DON GHÀIDHLIG

OUR COMMITMENT TO GAELIC

Tha am Plana Gàidhlig ath-ùraichte seo airson 2022-27 a’ mìneachadh chinn-uidhe shoilleir agus targaidean a ghabhas an tomhas gus a dhèanamh cinnteach gu bheil a’ Ghàidhlig a’ faighinn spèis agus air a cleachdadh taobh a-staigh a’ bhuidhinn. Bidh am plana cuideachd ag amas air tuilleadh leasachaidh agus neartachadh a dhèanamh air an àite a tha aig dearbh-aithne agus cultar na Gàidhlig ann a bhith a’ cruthachadh choimhearsnachdan beòthail agus fàs eaconamach seasmhachd.

Our renewed Gaelic Plan 2022-27 sets out clear goals and measurable targets to ensure Gaelic is respected and practised within the organisation. The plan also aims to further develop and enhance the role that Gaelic identity and culture plays in creating vibrant, resilient communities and sustainable economic growth.

Faodaidh buill den phoball an dreach plana a leughadh a-nis agus pàirt a ghabhail sa cho-chomhairleachadh gu 11 Gearran. hie.co.uk/gaelicplan

Members of the public can now read the draft plan and take part in the consultation until 11 February. hie.co.uk/gaelicplan