The CatStrand goes carbon neutral
New Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway — The CatStrand Arts Centre, a hub for creativity and community in New Galloway, has reached a major sustainability milestone, transitioning its heating system entirely to renewable energy sources.
New solar panels on CatStrand roof.
This transformation was made possible through funding from Local Energy Scotland’s CARES fund and the Scottish Government’s Community Led Local Development (CLLD) program, administered by the D&G Local Action Group and Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway.
The upgrade involved replacing the CatStrand’s oil boiler with cutting-edge air source heat pumps (ASHPs), solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery storage. With a renewable-only electricity contract topping up the batteries overnight, this initiative will eliminate nearly 10 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
Helen Keron, Chief Executive of the Glenkens Community and Arts Trust (GCAT), which owns CatStrand, added:
“This represents a major milestone in our Environmental Action Plan, and we’re delighted with the outcome. We’re very grateful to the funders who made this possible, the installers who worked through challenging conditions, and the dedicated GCAT staff and volunteers who all helped turn this aspiration into reality.”
The project was envisaged and managed by John Crallan, a long-time supporter of CatStrand. He said:
“It’s fantastic to see this project completed at last—it’s important that we all play our part in the move to Net Zero. I’d also like to thank Dave Stewart who volunteers his engineering expertise for the CatStrand so readily, and the Natural Power engineers who did the initial feasibility assessment.”
The solar PV panels and battery system were designed and installed by Smartly Energy, while the ASHPs were installed by Stewart Temperature Solutions. Both companies are highly experienced in delivering renewable energy solutions to community and commercial organisations and provided outstanding service throughout the project.
This initiative builds on research from a 2023 report on Energy Efficiency in the Glenkens by Natural Power Consultants, commissioned by GCAT and funded by previous CLLD support.
Celebration Event – Sunday 9th February
To celebrate this milestone and highlight the achievements of other town and village halls across the Glenkens, a special event will take place at CatStrand on Sunday 9th February. Attendees will hear directly from the teams behind recent historic building upgrades, including CatStrand, New Galloway Town Hall, and Dalry Town Hall. Click on poster for more details ➡️