Solar panels
Hamid van Koten | Tuesday, 9th December, 2025

Photo-Voltaic Solar Panels for the Chisholme Project – Update

Chisholme is progressing with a grant application that would enable the installation of photo-voltaic solar panels, helping us reduce both our carbon emissions and electricity costs. The funders have already approved the application in principle, and have agreed to cover 80% of the total cost—estimated at around £40,000. We are now approaching additional grant bodies to secure the remaining matched funding.

The Scottish Borders Council Planning Department has also been consulted and is supportive, again in principle. However, they require a substantial amount of documentation, which will take several months to prepare. A full planning application will therefore be submitted in the new year.

If planning permission is granted—likely in summer 2026—the panels will be installed in the grazing meadow to the north of the house, beyond the old generator shed. The array, covering approximately 100 m², will be fenced to protect it from livestock, and low-level planting may be added to help reduce its visual impact. A battery bank will also be installed in the old generator shed to store electricity for nighttime use. Any surplus electricity generated will be exported to the national grid.

We hope this next step to further reducing our energy impact will be followed by many others.

NB photo is an example only

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