The Community Renewable Energy (CoRE) Project is one of several projects funded through the Ayrshire Growth Deal, with £17 million of funding from the UK Government and £7.5 million from East Ayrshire Council. The project team are also identifying and submitting external match-funding applications, to complement and add-value to existing funding.
CoRE aims to showcase how a green recovery can transform our rural towns and villages, creating better-connected and healthier communities and improve the standard of living, through a just transition, and supporting the creation of long-term sustainable jobs.
CoRE's revised project aims and focus
Over the last three years, East Ayrshire, like the rest of the UK, has faced unprecedented challenges as a result of global events, such as the COVID pandemic and cost of living crisis. For certain groups and individuals, the social and economic effects of these challenges has been more profound, which has increased levels of inequalities between our communities.
The CoRE project presents a unique opportunity to address two of the greatest challenges facing our communities, through tackling the ongoing energy crisis and supporting a just and equitable transition towards net-zero.
Feedback from academic and industry partners shows there is a shortage of skills in the region, which is a barrier to economic growth and is preventing East Ayrshire residents from gaining sustainable employment within the sector. This also creates skills capacity issues for our local businesses, making delivery of our net-zero ambitions more difficult.
A primary focus of the CoRE project will therefore be to maximise the socio-economic and community health and well-being benefits from delivery of the project.
We are working closely with educational, academic and employability partners to:
- maximise skills development
- vocational training and STEM education opportunities for our communities
- address regional skills gaps
- ensure local people are positioned to benefit economically from the net-zero transition
- support the creation of career pathways from our schools into further education and green employment
Four key project aims have been set to reflect CoRE’s focus:
- Ensure our communities have the skills and qualifications to contribute to the low carbon sector supply chain.
- Help communities make affordable choices to heat and power their homes, to tackle fuel poverty.
- Make places which benefit our communities’ health and wellbeing.
- Make homes and buildings more sustainable and comfortable for people to live and work in.
Scope of CoRE
The approved Outline Business Case (OBC) for CoRE includes plans to build a Centre of Excellence facility in Knockroon Cumnock, two Demonstrator Houses on the same site, and a programme of demonstrator projects running until 2030.
An original design for the Centre of Excellence facility was completed and planning permission approved in June 2022. However, due to rising construction inflation costs and interest rates the Centre can no longer be built as originally planned. As a result, the project now needs to be reviewed and redesigned.
The primary function of the Centre was first planned as a renewable energy research facility. To better meet the needs of our communities and businesses, it is now expected to focus on skills, training and STEM education Centre. This will help address the regional skills shortage in the renewables sector and create job opportunities for our communities.
The project team is working with local businesses and partner organisations to agree the updated plans and design for the Centre.
The Outline Business Case also includes two net‑zero carbon Demonstrator Houses, which will be built on the same site as the Centre. One house will be open to the public and local communities to see and experience new renewable and sustainable technologies in a home setting. The second house will be used for training and research.
CoRE will also deliver a range of demonstrator projects. These projects will help communities and businesses adapt and respond to climate risks and sustainability challenges. They will show how key areas of community infrastructure such as housing, transport and energy can successfully move towards net zero, whilst supporting a just transition through ensuring support reaches those who need it most. The lessons learned will help shape future regional and national approaches to reducing carbon emissions.
Project governance
A governance structure has been put in place for the CoRE project. This aligns with the Ayrshire Growth Deal governance and has secured partner organisations to be involved in developing the project.
The CoRE partnership governance structure (PDF 87 KB) diagram shows how the CoRE partnership governance is set up. Updates and outcomes from this work are reported to the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee and Partnership Board.
Partner organisations
More than 50 partner organisations are involved in the project. Their wide range of experience, knowledge and technical expertise has been essential in helping to move the project forward across all areas of work.
The following organisations are contributing to the project.
Planned demonstrator projects
CoRE will deliver a programme of demonstrator projects up to 2030. These projects will help our communities and businesses move towards a low‑carbon future and support the Scottish Government’s climate change targets.
The projects will aim to show how key areas such as housing, transport and energy can successfully move towards net zero. What we learn from these projects will help shape future net‑zero plans at local and national level.
The demonstrator projects will be delivered in stages. Smaller pathfinder projects will be carried out first, followed by larger energy infrastructure projects.
Proposed pathfinder projects
The five current proposed pathfinder projects are as follows.
Barshare housing retrofit
The project will reduce fuel poverty and emissions through whole-house retrofit and heat decarbonisation. The performance and cost effectiveness of tiered levels of retrofit will be applied and evaluated to a representative sample of property archetypes.
The outcome will help guide the most appropriate retrofit pathway to transition our wider housing stock.
Rankinston monitoring and evaluation
Rankinston will be a priority area to support through the CoRE project. The long-term project will aim to help the community to become more energy self-sufficient, through providing renewable energy generation for the village through wind energy generation.
The project will also provide sustainable transport solutions and improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock through housing retrofit. The first phase of the project will be to appraise the renewable energy options and monitor and evaluate existing building stock conditions and energy efficiency ratings.
Electric vehicle car club
The car club will be delivered in partnership with Coalfields Community Transport and will provide an accessible electric car club to help our rural communities become better connected.
The project will help remove barriers and misconceptions of electric vehicles, through providing our communities with the opportunity to experience the benefits of the technology first-hand.
Public charge point infrastructure will be improved through construction of car charging hubs where the vehicles will be stationed.
Cumnock active travel
This pathfinder incorporates the following three smaller projects:
- Accessible e-bike club for disabled users: The project will provide e-bikes which are adapted to users specific disability needs. The project will offer training and cycling opportunities to a vulnerable group who would otherwise be unable to engage in cycling, without access to specialised equipment and training. The physical and mental health benefits of participants will be monitored for the duration of the project.
- SMART street lighting with high speed mobile phone network: This project aims to improve active travel infrastructure, digital connectivity, and overall sense of community safety in a poorly lit area.
- Behavioural change initiative: Building on ‘journey to the Jupiter’, encourage Cumnock town centre residents and businesses to actively travel to school and work one day per week – the health and well-being benefits of participants will then be monitored and assessed.
Equiflex flexible energy
This project is fully funded through the Strategic Investment Fund. The project is being delivered with Scottish Power Energy Network, Energy Action Scotland, Fraser-Nash Consultancy and University of West of Scotland.
The project will develop flexible energy solutions to reduce the energy bills and fuel poverty levels in deprived households. Examples of flexible energy solutions include increasing user’s energy consumption through SMART devices at non-peak times when energy from the grid is cheaper and turning down energy usage at peak times when energy is most expensive.
The intended outcomes of the project will include developed flexible energy solutions which can be rolled out to wider households and an engagement toolkit to help engage with and secure participation from the targeted demographic.
Centre of Excellence
The project team are in the process of conducting a partnership consultation strategy to agree the planned deliverables for the Centre. It is expected that the Centre will be a multi‑purpose facility, supporting the following four key outcomes:
Skills, training and STEM education
It is anticipated that the primary function of the Centre will be to address the regional skills gap in the renewable and sustainability sectors, through delivering re-training and skills development opportunities.
The centre support regional STEM education provision to create and develop career pathways, from schools, into further education or vocational training and the industry.
Research development and innovation
Activity to include the development of renewable and low-carbon solutions which can be implemented locally to benefit our communities.
Community hub
Delivery of free and impartial energy saving advice and funding support. Delivery of on-site active travel and sustainable travel opportunities.
Industry and small to medium enterprise (SME) support
Development of a regional trusted trader style network of renewables installers. Access to dedicated workshop space, cutting edge industry technology and funding and accreditation advice to help our businesses maximise competitiveness.
Timescales for project delivery
Projected timescales for delivery of the project are as follows:
Demonstrator Projects:
- Delivery of first phase pathfinder projects: August 2024 to December 2025.
- Delivery of second phase energy infrastructure projects: November 2025 to December 2030.
Centre of Excellence Facility:
- Partnership consultation strategy to determine partnership demand and requirements for Centre of Excellence: July 2024 to December 2024.
- Professional re-design of the Centre of Excellence facility, which is informed by outcomes of consultation strategy: January 2025 to December 2025.
- Construction of the Centre of Excellence: January 2026 to March 2027.
- Opening of facility: April 2027.
CoRE contribution to Cumnock
CoRE will bring many opportunities to Cumnock and the surrounding areas including the following.
Education
The project will increase the offering of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education across Ayrshire. It will work in partnership with The King’s Foundation, Ayrshire College and all East Ayrshire schools to develop STEM learning from early years through to further education.
The project will also encourage local and national businesses to offer apprenticeships and work experience in the renewable energy sector for young people in Ayrshire.
Industry and academic partners will support the delivery of STEM education and employability advice from the Centre, raising awareness of future employment opportunities in the renewables sector. This will help our young people gain the education and skills needed to thrive in this growing industry.
Employment opportunities
The project will help attract new business and industry to the area, creating job opportunities for our communities. It will also support existing businesses to adapt and grow in the low‑carbon sector, strengthening the local supply chain.
The Centre will support small and medium sized businesses to move towards low carbon ways of working. This includes:
- redesigning the products they manufacture
- the processes they deliver
- their physical environment, or
- their daily operating activities
CoRE’s demonstrator projects will also create new employment opportunities. By involving local businesses in delivering these projects, the benefits will be shared across the community.
Tackling fuel poverty
CoRE will help reduce fuel poverty in local communities. Housing retrofit demonstrator projects will make our homes more energy efficient, helping people use less energy and lower their energy bills. Renewable energy generation demonstrator projects will also help our communities to become more energy self-sufficient, reducing reliance on the national grid.
By providing sustainable employment, training, and upskilling opportunities, CoRE will drive economic growth, help tackle deprivation, and improve overall living standards in our communities.
Sustainable travel
The project will enhance active travel opportunities, whilst also encouraging low-carbon transport.
Active travel demonstrator projects will include:
- an accessible e-bike club, with specialist bikes adapted to the user’s disability requirements
- installation of SMART street lighting in a poorly lit area, and
- a behavioural change initiative to encourage active travel
Sustainable travel support will include delivery of a community electric car club, helping our rural communities stay better connected. The project will explore solutions to support decarbonisation our heavier fleet vehicles, such as generation of green hydrogen using curtailed wind energy which can be used to power heavier vehicles.
Community benefits
The community benefits of CoRE are as follows:
- £24.5 million allocated to the CoRE project with opportunities to bring additional funding to the East Ayrshire area
- delivery of a programme of demonstrator projects which tackle fuel poverty, create local jobs and training opportunities and improve communities’ health and well-being
- joint approach by academics, businesses and the Council to ensure a 'just transition' utilising the new technologies and reducing their own carbon footprint
- new business and industry will be attracted to the area, with new job opportunities created for local people
- business diversification promoted for low and zero carbon technologies
- STEM education, training and up-skilling opportunities for our communities to help develop the local renewable supply chain and create employment pathways from schools through to industry
- community access to a range of low-carbon sustainable transport opportunities, to help our rural communities to become better connected and reduce our reliance on emissions vehicles
- opportunity to reuse vacant and derelict land for community renewable energy projects
- local communities can access the Centre of Excellence for a range of support and advise on the net-zero transition, to help with develop local community owned energy projects and to identify and developing applications for match funding opportunities
- improved digital infrastructure, such as development of a high-speed mobile network which is available to the public
Useful links
The project will work in partnership with University of Strathclyde's Energy Systems Research Unit and the Energy Technology Partnership.
Climate Change Strategy: Clean, Green East Ayrshire (PDF 3.65 MB)
Herald Scotland: Giving power to the people is elemental in East Ayrshire
Press release: Renewables Research Centre plans unveiled for Cumnock