A smart energy project linking a Scottish village to local renewables has secured funding for a second year.

The SMART Fintry project, which was set up in 2016, aims to help residents cut energy bills, reduce emissions and become more self-sufficient.

In its first six months, more than 80 households signed up to a special electricity tariff, using smart meters to help closely monitor their power usage.

The project also secured deals to match electricity use with the output from three local renewable generators, including two wind turbines and an anaerobic digestion plant, creating a local clean energy market.

The groups involved with running the project include the Fintry Development Trust, Veitch Cooper, Energy Assets, Heriot Watt University and renewable supplier Good Energy.

Gordon Cowtan, a Fintry resident and Co-Founder of the Fintry Development Trust, said: “The households taking part have already switched to a special renewable electricity tariff with Good Energy and have had new meters installed to keep track of their energy use.

“In the long run, we hope that by reducing the strain on the national grid smart, local energy systems like the one being piloted in Fintry will help drive down household energy bills and make communities more self-sufficient.”