Loganair launches funding to support local renewable energy projects
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Regional airline Loganair has announced that it will award a further £30,000 to organisations across the country in support of local renewable energy projects as part of its GreenSkies Community Fund.
As part of the airline's journey to net-zero by 2040, earlier this year the airline distributed £5000 grants to six companies across Scotland, supporting them to establish projects such as small-scale wind systems, solar panels, small-scale hydro power and charging point stations for electric vehicles.
Building on the success of the first round of funding, the airline now hopes to support more projects with further grants.
Applications for round two of the community fund scheme are now invited and the airline has extended the eligibility to organisations in other parts of the country as it builds on its commitment to serving regions across the UK and Northern Ireland.
Scottish organisations will see a further £10,000 of funding, surplus to the £30,000 already awarded earlier this year. Additionally, £20,000 is also being made available to support renewable energy projects in some of Loganair’s wider areas of operation including Southampton, Newcastle, Isle of Man and City of Derry.
Luke Lovegrove, chief commercial officer at Loganair, said: “Following the distribution of the GreenSkies grants earlier this year, we have seen fantastic progress amongst the projects that received funding.
“As we continue to drive forward our GreenSkies programme to offset carbon emissions and develop future flight technologies, we also want to encourage and support like-minded organisations in communities we serve, in our shared aim for a greener future”
“We are thrilled that we have been able to support the efforts of organisations across Scotland and can now take this a step further with additional money that helps those across other parts of the country as they also tackle carbon emissions.”
Among previous successful applicants was Eday Community Enterprises, a community-owned shop on one of Orkney’s smaller islands, Eday. The shop has used its GreenSkies Community grant to purchase energy efficient freezers.
Isle of Lewis’ Macaulay College, a not-for-profit community interest company which supports adults and young people with additional social and educational requirements, has used its GreenSkies Community grant to invest in solar energy.
The installation of solar panels will help to ensure that clean energy is the primary source for the building – a big first step in fulfilling a long-standing wish for solar energy to be introduced across the island.
Another recipient was Islay Development Initiative who has committed the funding to new air source heating within Bowmore Community Hall which is being installed in early November.
Loganair’s GreenSkies programme was launched in July 2021 with the introduction of a small mandatory carbon offsetting charge levied on all flights, with the money invested in accredited offsetting schemes.
The airline is involved in a wide range of additional initiatives to manage and mitigate the environmental impact of flying and is the only UK regional carrier participating in the UK Government’s Jet Zero Council initiative – launched by the Prime Minister last summer – to de-carbonise air travel.
The GreenSkies Community Fund is now open and applications should be submitted via the Loganair website at www.loganair.co.uk/people-planet/community-engagement by Monday, October 31.
