Three halls earn share of £410k energy funding pot

THREE community halls are set to benefit from a share of over £410,000 in net zero funding from SSEN Distribution.

The Sandness, Walls and South Nesting halls will all receive a portion of the first tranche of SSEN’s Powering Communities to Net Zero fund.

The fund aims to support communities looking to decarbonise their operations, and to help them become more resilient in the event of storms or emergencies that affect the electricity network.

Walls Community Hall will use its £6,000 grant to buy mobile communications equipment to help keep the most vulnerable people in the community safe in the event of a black-out, SSEN said.

The Sandness Public Hall Association has received £6,998 to install an air source heat pump, while South Nesting Community Hall will be given £1,791 for an external generator connection socket and changeover switch.

SSEN Distribution’s north of Scotland operations director Andy Smith said they were delighted by the “positive response” to its first year of net zero funding.

“The variety of applications has been particularly impressive, and whether it’s taking the initiative and making plans to become more resilient or thinking of how they can decarbonise their day-to-day activities, all of the communities who submitted their applications are to be commended,” he said.

“We’re proud to be supporting everyone’s laudable ambitions and wish our applicants nothing but success with their endeavours.”