Hope Hub SCIO (HHS) has been awarded almost £60,000 to put in solar panels and batteries which will help it reduce running costs, carbon emissions and make the facilities more sustainable.

Improvements to the hub will provide HHS with all its electricity with batteries sizes maximised to allow almost all its electricity to be utilised at off-peak times even on the dullest winter days.

The hub is an integral part of the Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill community, providing space for community services not currently available within, providing a meeting point for the local community, providing multipurpose meeting rooms allowing organisations, community groups, local services and individuals a space to meet.

Councillor Robert Brown, the Chair of the Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, said: “It is great to see renewable energy funding being used for just that renewable energy.

“Providing the cash to allow the hub to install green energy will make these facilities an even more attractive place for the whole community to come together for a wide range of activities.

“Funding projects like this help deliver one of the REF funds seven strategic aims in reducing carbon and supporting a move to a net zero economy.”

As well as the meeting rooms the hub also has other attractions including its own café and a community garden which provides a space of quiet and relaxation.

All REFs are subject to suitable match funding with £39,101.30 Community Led Local Development Fund now also confirmed to match the 60% Kype Muir Windfarm REF contribution of £58,651.94 for the total project value of £97,753.24.

The Renewable Energy Fund is for capital projects within 10km of a participating renewable energy development.

Capital projects are usually long-term projects to acquire, develop, improve and/or maintain a capital asset such as land, buildings or roads or one-off activities, and further information can be found on the council website.