Raasay (Gaelic: Ratharsair) is a small island in the Highlands, sitting between Skye and the Scottish mainland. Just 14 miles long and 3 miles wide, it is home to around 179 people and features a mix of hills, woodland, and quiet beaches.

In May 2022, Raasay was chosen as one of six locations to take part in the Carbon Neutral Islands (CNI) project, alongside Barra, Cumbrae, Hoy, Islay, and Yell. This Scottish Government initiative aims to help the islands reach net zero by 2040, with communities leading the process. The scheme supports local economies as well as climate action, and encourages shared learning so the six islands can guide others on their decarbonisation journeys.

On each island, the project is delivered by a local ‘anchor’ organisation supported by the Scottish Government and partners such as Community Energy Scotland (CES), SCCAN, Sniffer, and Aquatera. On Raasay, the Raasay Development Trust (RDT) leads the work. With help from CES, RDT produced energy and transport carbon audits and carried out a residents’ survey, which informed a new Community Climate Change Action Plan. Two Carbon Neutral Development Officers, Rosie Macinnes and Tom Lusink, were employed to work closely with residents and turn the plan into real projects.

Tackling domestic energy challenges

Raasay residents have long found it difficult to get retrofit work done because approved contractors rarely travel to the island for individual jobs. Yet the need is clear: the residents’ survey showed that more than half the population ration their heating, nearly half live with damp, and many rely on portable heaters just to stay warm.

Heating is the island’s biggest source of emissions, with most homes relying on oil boilers, stoves, open fires, or storage heaters. Poor insulation means houses require a lot of energy to heat. When residents were asked about priorities for climate action, better insulation and retrofitting came out on top.

The CNI project works in line with Scotland’s wider net-zero plans. On Raasay, this means finding ways to overcome the long-standing problems around housing upgrades, which island communities often miss out on.

How Home Energy Scotland supported the project

Home Energy Scotland’s Highlands and Islands team joined the Raasay project to provide detailed data on local housing. Their modelling of individual properties helped build a clear picture of what improvements were needed and backed up the findings from community consultation.

Once RDT and the development officers confirmed that residents wanted retrofit work, they began exploring funding options. It soon became obvious that an “all at once” approach was needed to make it worthwhile for contractors. Working with Home Energy Scotland, they planned a large, coordinated round of home visits.

In October 2023, the Home Energy Scotland team travelled to Raasay. Thanks to advance outreach by Rosie Macinnes, more than 40 households were already booked in. Over three days, the team carried out drop-in events and home surveys, producing reports for properties with existing EPCs and gathering information where new assessments were required.

Results of the partnership

The visit produced 42 Home Energy Improvement Reports — almost half of Raasay’s permanent households. More than 20 homes were flagged for possible support through the Highland Council Area Based Scheme, and over a dozen were suitable for Warmer Homes Scotland referrals.

RDT and the development officers are now working with Highland Council and the Scottish Government to build on this momentum. The aim is to create a coordinated retrofit programme that covers social housing, permanent homes, and second homes, avoiding the usual challenges around travel, accommodation, and contractor availability.

Next steps and lessons learned

Contractors appointed by Highland Council have already begun large-scale retrofit work. As of October 2025, 50 measures — including air-source heat pumps, solar panels, batteries, and different types of insulation — have been installed across 12 homes. Those able to self-fund can join in alongside grant-funded work.

This progress is part of a much wider effort. Earlier work by CES and RDT identified retrofit as a key priority; the on-island development officers provided capacity to drive the work forward; and strong local networks helped reach almost half the island’s households in a single visit.

Community Energy Scotland and the Raasay Development Trust were central to this success. Their knowledge of the island and the trust they have built locally made this project possible.

To discuss this project or enquire about carrying out a similar project in your local area please contact: hes_partnerships@est.org.uk

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A net zero partnership: the Isle of Raasay, the Carbon Neutral Island project | Home Energy Scotland