THE potential for community renewable energy in the Holsworthy area is being investigated by the town council with the help of Energy Analysis.

The council, on Wednesday, November 4, voted in favour of commissioning Ben Eardley, who works for Energy Analysis, to carry out a pre- feasibility study in Holsworthy. It will be funded through the Rural Communities Energy Fund (RCEF).

A grant of up to £20,000, which does not need to be match-funded by the council, can cover technical feasibility, community engagement, legal structures, business planning, and financial forecasting.

The government grant will be used to enable Holsworthy to carry out a feasibility study, through Energy Analysis, to establish whether renewable projects will provide social and economic benefits to the area.

It is hoped several community buildings and private businesses in Holsworthy may benefit from the utilisation of renewable energy — with the feasibility study seeking to establish if it is possible to implement such systems.

Holsworthy town clerk Vanessa Saunders said: “We would like to determine if there is a valid project and the funding would be used for pre-feasibility work to establish local energy demand, determine renewable energy resource and help to pull together information and support for further funding.”

The council’s main interest is the viability of a new heating system to offset large heating costs of several local buildings, including the college, town hall and new build sports pavilion.

The use of a wood fuel heating system has the potential to utilise local fuel and reduce heating costs and carbon emissions.

The town council would also like to consider the viability of solar photovoltaics, wind energy and hydropower in the area, with a view to developing community-owned renewable energy projects.

There is also the potential for district heating systems to connect several buildings used by the community.

If the feasibility study shows that Holsworthy would not benefit from renewable projects there will be no outlay for the council as the study is completely funded through the RCEF.

The council will await the results of the study before taking further action to apply for funding.