Welcome to Eigg: The World's First Fully Self-Sufficient Island
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 04. 1.08
Image courtesy of monkeypuzzle via flickr
If you've been looking for the ideal travel location in which to truly indulge your newfound eco-ethos, then look no further than the beautiful Isle of Eigg - a small island located off the coast of Scotland. Yes, through a mix of ingenuity and sheer will, the island's residents have managed to go completely off-grid - relying on a £1.6m system that draws power from a mix of local wind, solar and hydroelectric energy sources.
The self-sufficient system, built to supply more than 95% of Eigg's annual energy needs and backed up by a battery storage system and two diesel generators (in case of an emergency), was a project 10 years in the making; engineers from Eigg Electric put the finishing touches on it this February 1. It links a total of 45 households, 6 community buildings and 20 businesses over a 6-mile high voltage network.
Households are allowed to draw up to 5 kW of electricity at any time - an amount that is only about one-half to two-thirds the amount used by a typical household in Britain (and a lot less than what a typical American household uses) - while businesses can draw up to 10 kw, reports The Christian Science Monitor's Emilie Boyer King.
Even though the system is only supporting around 80 people, it is a great testament to the ability of dedicated (and eco-minded) individuals to wean themselves off the convenience of fossil fuel-based sources - even under extenuating circumstances.
Via ::BBC News: Islanders get 24-hour green power (news website), ::The Christian Science Monitor: Isle of Eigg a model of energy self-sufficiency (
See also: ::Alex Michaelis Envisions Creation of Multiple "Energy Islands" to Supply Planet's Resources, ::This Way to Treasure Island, Ecocity
Hmmmm let me do the math:
1.6 million british pounds (I believe) for 80 people, comes out to:
20.000 bp per capita.
Actually, not that bad! Think about it, it's the investment for the total energy for the near future (not including maintenance costs, of course..)
Now let's add high-efficiency solar panels, like the one promoted by the USDT here on TH in 2006 with 40% plus efficiency....I get it!
Hmmmm let me do the math:
1.6 million british pounds (I believe) for 80 people, comes out to:
20.000 bp per capita.
Actually, not that bad! Think about it, it's the investment for the total energy for the near future (not including maintenance costs, of course..)
Now let's add high-efficiency solar panels, like the one promoted by the USDT here on TH in 2006 with 40% plus efficiency....I get it!
Samsø anyone?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sams%C3%B8
Actually, according to the BBC article, Eigg never had mains power, so it's not so much a matter of "weaning" as one of finally bringing them into the 20th (!) century.
Until this new system was switched on in February, the island's inhabitants had to use their own diesel generators (or micro wind) whenever they needed electricity.
I know it's great that they're using renewable power to set up their "mini-grid", but the article makes it sound like they always had mains power from the mainland and they've just turned it off.
So, Yay! 24-hour electricity!
And also, Yay! It's renewable!
"Samsø anyone?"
Tasmania, that's the island down the bottom of Australia, population is about 500,000. They ran exclusively on Hydro power from the 70s until the late 90s, when they connected the island to the mainland grid.
yep I was going to post a samsø was the first comment. Samsø is a small island in denmark, which is 100% off grid, and supplying more than these guys.
If an island can run on power from a mix of local wind, solar and hydroelectric energy sources, backed up by a battery storage system, then so can the world.
We have the technology.
If an island can run on power from a mix of local wind, solar and hydroelectric energy sources, backed up by a battery storage system, then so can the world.
We have the technology.
John Taylor (ps what is it with typekey? It fails to keep signed in).
yea Tasmania was self sufficient with hydro, but that was at the coast of damming up many of the central lakes (ie, Lake Pedder) which remains quite controversial