The first port of call was Girvan’s Biomass Wood Pellet Plant,

The plant incorporates a biomass Combined Heat and Power system that operates on locally sourced biomass fuel. This gives the lowest carbon emissions possible from the wood pellet production process.

It has the capacity to produce 60,000 tons of wood pellets per annum using sustainable UK forestry and local sawmill co-product. This provides the potential to heat over 15,000 homes and give a 90% net carbon saving over burning heating oil.Visitors were escorted throughout the plant to witness the production process and quality monitoring systems.

The next studies included a wind turbine electricity generation scheme at Carrickamickie Bay Farm.

The two 50kw turbine project was initiated by Mr Woods and has been in operation formedium 2 years continuously “The location is ideal with wind speed staying above 8ms even in summer”.

Guests were then welcomed to the Eco-tourism honey pot at the Mull of Galloway including the RSPB reserve and the award-winning environmentally sensitive Gallie Craig Coffee House where locally sourced food was taken by all.

On Thursday 8^th May, the illustrious guests were invited by the local council to a

Civic reception and Lunch. Presentations by Councillor Ian Carruthers DG energy champion and Councillor Colin Smyth, head of Planning and Environment, focussing on the political processes within the council and specifically energy and sustainable policy.

Housing energy efficiency workshop sessions and presentations: DGHP – James Shirazi from DGHP social housing explained the modernisation of its portfolio. He discussed the options with regards to renewables and highlighted the selected solution for over 1000 properties – Air source heat pumps; and examined the case for energy efficiency measures within the Victorian (Circa 1880ad) properties detailing costs and methodologies of internal/external insulation practices.

Mark Whytock, Representative from the 100%RES groups discussed progress within the project and the challenges faced by several participating D&G communities.

After lunch in Council Chambers the press were invited for a press photo call, this included the local TV station Annandale TV who interviewed several attendees. Please see: http://annandale.tv/stories/4600-local-renewable-energy-projects-in-euro-spotlight

Proceeding from Dumfries the visitors were taken to Dormont Estate, Dalton

to experience a small estate built to the passive house standard. David Major (White Hill Design Studio), the architect led the tour highlighting how low cost passive houses for the general population could be achieved. Furthermore a representative from the local Estate, Catherine Duff,  explained how the project had beennecessary to enable Estate workers to live in affordable housing within close proximity to their place of work. The VIP’s were welcomed by local residents into the properties to see for themselves.

At Hightae the group was presented with a micro hydro scheme designed and constructed by the land owner Malcolm McDonald, Ramierscales Estate. The 35kw high head scheme ran some 500m from the penstock through to the turbine house. As the pipework and fixed structures all remained with single land ownership it was possible for the scheme to be undertaken faster and cheaper than may comparable projects in Dumfries and Galloway. Utilizing a Pelton turbine ensures a low maintenance high reliability system which supplies the estate and timber yard with a high percentage of it’s electrical needs

Participant Groups