Welcome to Eigg: The World's First
Fully Self-Sufficient Island
Apr 1, 20087 - treehugger.com
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| 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
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