Craster Memorial Hall has become a warm hub with Northern Powergrid Foundation funding for ten solar panels and a storage battery.
Craster Memorial Hall, which serves as a vital hub to its local community, received £14,275.52 from The Northern Powergrid Foundation to support its plans to become a warm hub.
The Foundation has provided a sustainable energy source to protect residents during a power crisis. The Foundation funded the installation of ten 395 watt-peak (Wp) solar panels and a 13.5 kilowatt hours (kWh) Tesla storage battery which would not only provide back-up power but make the hall self-sufficient in providing green electricity.
The funds enable Craster Memorial Hall, the only community hub within the villages of Craster and Dunstan, Northumberland, to provide refuge providing light, warmth, communication and company to the residents, particularly those that are vulnerable during power cuts. The local area has suffered from multiple and extensive power outages in recent winters leaving residents isolated and unable to cook or heat their homes so this community project will play dividends in keeping them safe.
The kit installed will also reduce the hall's electricity bills by drawing electricity from the solar panels and then storing excess electricity within battery for future use or exported.
Councillor Wendy Pattinson, member for Loughoughton ward on Northumberland County Council, said "I really do see the solar panels and storage battery as providing a safe, self-sufficient warm space in the event of a power cut plus having real benefits in cutting energy costs and contributing to Northumberland's carbon neutral target".
Jackie Reeves, Craster Community Trust Treasurer, said “The project has enhanced the Memorial Hall’s resilience as a community hub, especially if we have a power cut. We now have a micro-grid to provide warmth, food and drink, social interaction and internet connection; particularly for those in need. The community has already benefitted from having a safe space with light and warmth for the local community to go to when they experienced a nine-hour disruption to power supplies in March - which impacted Craster and Dunstanburgh. Thank you to the Northern Powergrid Foundation and our other community partners for the donation to make this happen for our local residents.”
Louise Lowes, Northern Powergrid Foundation Trustee, said: “As a representative of The Northern Powergrid Foundation I’m delighted to support the Memorial Hall and provide funding to help keep customers connected in the event of a power disruption. I am pleased to see the project at Craster is complete and it was great to hear from the team at Craster to hear about the positive impact the project was bringing, including a test run of their ‘warm hub’ during a recent power cut. It’s fantastic to see it is already delivering its desired benefits to the local community by being a place where residents can seek refuge at times of need. Long may it support the residents.”
The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, who has played a key role in supporting her community with its application and helped present the cheque to Craster Memorial Hall said: “It’s wonderful to see the Craster Community Trust’s commitment in providing a hub for residents come to fruition, with the support of the Northern Powergrid Foundation donation to the solar energy project for the Memorial Hall. The damage and distress caused by Storm Arwen has brought together amazing people and has also brought this fantastic facility to life. Congratulations to everyone for their hard work.”
In the photo L-R: Louise Lowes, Northern Powergrid Foundation Trustee, Helen Chamberlain, Craster Community Trust Trustee, Jackie Reeves, Craster Community Trust Trustee, Margaret Brooks, Craster Community Trust Parish Councillor and Marion Gallon, Craster Community Trust Trustee, pictured with Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP for Berwick-Upon-Tweed outside of Craster Memorial Hall
Media coverage:
Northumberland Gazette
The challenges for Craster, Northumberland, residents
Due to the possibility of further power interruptions at the coastal village of Craster the trustees of the Craster Village Hall identified a need to increase their resilience.
The solution for Craster, Northumberland, residents
The trustees of the Craster Village Hall identified that solar panels and batteries were the best solution to allow the village hall, the only community hub that supports villagers of Craster and Dunstan, to remain open for the local, particulary vulnerable, community to safely reside during times of power interruptions.
Support from the Northern Powergrid Foundation
The Northern Powergrid Foundation supported the community project with a £14,275.52 donation to go towards solar panels and energy storage battery.
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.