A SMALL island community hopes to produce almost all of its power through renewable sources after securing £1.3 million in funding. Residents on Canna in the Inner Hebrides will use the money to build a green energy system based around wind and solar energy along with better battery storage.

The island is not connected to the national grid and currently uses three diesel engines to produce power, but it is hoped renewables will provide more than 90 per cent of what is needed when the scheme is complete.

Canna Renewable Energy and Electrification Ltd (CREEL) director Geraldine MacKinnon said: “Our energy project has been a long-standing ambition for our community. The island is exposed to the full force of Atlantic gales and we can finally start to put that to good use.

“As well as reducing the noise and pollution from the generators, the new scheme will give us the capacity to build additional houses. We’re very grateful to all of our funders for their support in this vital project.”

Funding was secured from the Big Lottery Fund, the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme, SSE Highland Sustainable Development Fund, Highlands and Islands Enterprise as well as the National Trust for Scotland.