Could we completely switch to renewable energy?
CrowdScience
BBC
4.8 • 985 Ratings
🗓️ 29 October 2021
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
As the world slowly moves away from using fossil fuels for electricity, one tiny Scottish island has proved it’s possible to rely almost entirely on renewables.
The inner Hebridean isle of Eigg used to get its power from diesel generators. But in 2008 its residents launched the world’s first electricity system powered by nature, and the Crowdscience team wants to know exactly how they did it, and whether such a model could work in other places with no national grid? Marnie discovers that the community is key to the success of this project, meeting the maintenance men who taught themselves to install equipment and solve any problems themselves, and hearing from residents who’ve changed their habits to use less juice. With the mainland more than an hour away by a once-daily ferry, this kind of resourcefulness is vital. Hydroelectric generators harness the power of running water and are complemented by wind turbines and solar panels on peoples roofs, meeting 95% of Eigg’s energy needs. Now others are learning from this unique experiment and we meet the Malawians who were inspired after visiting Eigg. A solar grid in the village of Sitolo has provided power to thousands of people, and the people who designed it are planning others.
Thanks to Eigg residents: Sue Hollands, Maggie Fyfe, Eddie Scott, Bob Wallace, Greg Carr
Presented by Marnie Chesterton Produced by Marijke Peters for BBC World Service.
This episode of CrowdScience has been edited to correct a factual error
Image: Wind turbines on Eigg Credit: Getty Images
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of |
| 0:07.0 | Happiness Podcast. |
| 0:08.0 | For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want |
| 0:14.4 | to share that science with you. |
| 0:16.1 | And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley. |
| 0:19.4 | I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that |
| 0:25.4 | calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:31.1 | Hello and welcome to Crowd Science from the BBC World Service with me, |
| 0:37.0 | Marney Chesterton and coming up some enterprising islanders. |
| 0:42.0 | My daughter had her wedding here. She gave everyone really detailed |
| 0:46.1 | instructions and they could only use one hair dry at a time and there was almost |
| 0:50.3 | an all-out revolution, you know. But things do go wrong, you know, there was an incident a couple of years ago |
| 0:55.5 | where we were running a stage off the island's electricity, |
| 1:00.1 | and it's all been going well up until the sex suddenly cut out and we wondered why it was and it's because someone had ordered a cup of tea at the bar. |
| 1:08.0 | People from the mainland cannot get their head round it. |
| 1:11.0 | It's simply day life it's how it works. |
| 1:16.0 | Regular listeners amongst you will know that this is the show that travels off in search of answers to your science questions |
| 1:22.0 | and I'm on a ferry just about to dock |
| 1:25.1 | on the island of Egg, which is currently a little bit |
| 1:27.9 | wet and windy. |
| 1:29.9 | But I'm going to find out how that is going to help create something that many of us take for granted. |
| 1:36.0 | Electricity. And it's all thanks to an email from listener Jeed. |
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