COP26 offers lessons for Highlands, councillors attending global conference claim
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Two Highland councillors have been at the heart of COP26 meeting and talking with delegates.
Cllr Trish Robertson, Culloden and Ardersier ward, along with Cllr Angela Maclean, Dingwall and Seaforth ward, have been at the conference to find out what innovation could be brought back to the Highlands.
As part of Cllr Robertson's investigations, she has been encouraged by the huge number of products are available to the market - but is concerned at the lack of actual progress.
She said: "COP26 has been a wonderful experience and we have been able to have many conversations about the future and what it will look like in the Highlands. If we had not been here this would not have been able to happen."
One of the projects that has interested Cllr Robertson was one where the energy a community needs, is what it gets.
She explained: "Project LEO set in Oxford brings together a university community coop and energy companies.
"A test project using local data to understand community energy use and taking what is learned to get the best out of the service supply.
"Smart metres are the key to delivering better value for customers.
"For example, cars charged overnight when demand is low and the potential to use the same batteries as storage.
"The coop has wind and solar power that is harvested locally and then the energy is sold with benefits all coming back to the community.
"This is a really interesting project that could be useful to the Highlands.
"It is certainly very interesting to see how the joined up approach that puts the community on the driving seat."
Cllr Robertson, who earlier blasted prime minister Boris Johnson for his lack of action when it comes to putting in place the commitments made at the COP, continued: "We need to get on and do most of this for ourselves.
"But for people who want to make real changes, we must look at what others are doing and find ways to replicate it in the Highlands.
"As ever, affordable design is key to making anything we do work."
While they are representing Highland Council at the COP, the councillors organised the trip themselves, and are staying with family friends in the city.
