Eigg's non renewable energy

[claymore]

Listened with interest to the Radio 4 'Today' interview about the current spell of light winds putting a strain on the energy sources on the Island of Eigg, resulting in people being asked not to stick the kettle or the toaster on as the batteries are getting a little low.

We anchored their some time ago and talked to an Islander who was bemoaning the fact that they could well have afforded mains power cabled over from the mainland instead of the ridiculous RoRo ferry facility that was being built at that time.

Whilst I do support alternative energy sources being developed and used - we are curently planning to install a ground heat-source system at Claymore Towers - in all things there should be balance and reason do we not believe?

Final point - when I heard the topic being introduced, my heart leapt in eager anticipation of a gentle highland voice - how disappointing to hear some broiler from Bolton or Accrington blethering away in broad Lancastrian tones. Blasted incomers!

[MrMcP]

The BBC website article on their problems (their small scale hydro stuff has run dry too) did say that when their renewable supplies run low they have a bank of generators that kick in to plug the gap, so I couldn't see why so much was being made of no toasters....although I guess having an island running on a diesel genny could get noisy.

I thought more newsworthy was the residents of Mull having to close hotels and cancel guesthouse bookings as they're running out of water....

[claymore]

Hell - whit aboot the whisky, will they be using Soda?