Slaley Commemoration Hall on its way to become a crisis hub for the residents of Slaley with a funded battery storage.
Slaley Commemoration Hall received £18,400 from The Northern Powergrid Foundation to support its community in winter. The Foundation funded the installation of battery storage to existing solar panels. This allowed the hall to be a warm hub for the local residents during power outages as the hall would be resilient to the external factors and remain functioning with warm, light and the ability to charge phones to stay in communications with loved ones.
The battery storage also helps with economic sustainability as it can store daytime solar energy that can be used at alternative times.
Slaley is a rural community which due to its isolation and altitude can be affected by snow drifts and other severe weather which can impact access in and out of the area and increase the risk of damage to the local power network. The funding from The Northern Powergrid Foundation enables Slaley Commemoration Hall to provide a warm space for the village residents of Slaley, Northumberland, during severe weather now and in the future.
Stella Douglas, treasurer of Slaley Commemoration Hall, said: "As a rural community we’re used to coming together to help each other in times of extreme weather, but Storm Arwen was an event way above the provision we had in place. We took the first step of embracing green technology but couldn’t afford to install the vital batteries which would provide the backup needed. It is fantastic that with this extra support we can now offer a safe haven to those in need."
Media coverage
Hexham Courant
Northern Powergrid
The challenges for Slaley, Northumberland, residents
The need for the Slaley Commemoration Hall was highlighted during storm Arwen. Gaps in the centre's contingency plan ability to serve the residents of Slaley were identified.
The solution for Slaley, Northumberland, residents
Due to the possibility of power interruptions at Slaley and vital role a village hall plays in keeping the local community safe the trustees identified a need for batteries to be added to their existing solar panel array to improve the hall's resilience.
Support from the Northern Powergrid Foundation
The Northern Powergrid Foundation supported the community project with a £18,400 donation to go towards battery storage.
More about the Northern Powergrid Foundation
The Northern Powergrid Foundation’s mission, complementing Northern Powergrid’s ambition to be a force for good in the communities it serves, is to support communities most affected by changes in the economy, environment, and society because of the shifting energy landscape. This will be achieved by supporting projects focused on helping to tackle energy resilience during emergency events, vulnerability, fuel poverty, levelling the rural divide, innovation, social support, and community collaboration. Funds are available to support the communities across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire served by Northern Powergrid.