SEVERAL communities have joined together to bid for a wind farm that would become the largest community-controlled wind farm in Scotland.
Four community bodies on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll are working together to lease the Cruach Mhor wind farm in Glendaruel, which is currently owned by Forestry Land Scotland.
The Scotsman reported that members of community trusts from Dunoon, Sandbank, Benmore, Kilmun and South Cowal have formed the Cowal Community Energy (CCE) to lease the land and redevelop from 2029.
Bids are being considered this week with current lease holder, Scottish Power Renewables, also set to be involved.
If the bid is successful, it would create the largest community-owned wind farm in Scotland and could set a precedent for community groups around the country to take control of wind farms.
Alan Stewart, a director of CCE, said: “The wind farms take up the land, cause disruption, they impact on the scenery of our communities and they make a lot of money. The communities get little benefit from that.
“Often the communities get a token amount back. The local communities should be able to get a full share. The income from Cruach Mhor would be transformational for an area like Dunoon and Cowal.
“We are very excited that this could set an example for other communities to take a lease of the neighbouring windfarms.
“If we do succeed, it will be fantastic for Cowal and Dunoon. But will also be a successful example for communities all over Scotland where wind farms are developing and repowered, especially on government owned land.”
Dr Josh Doble, policy manager at Community Land Scotland, said: “It’s really impressive to see how community trusts in Cowal have come together to bid for the lease. They are a great example of the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit within Scottish communities.
“There is widespread acceptance that communities should be getting greater benefit from wind farms and – whenever possible – they should have the right to own the wind farm and benefit properly from the business model.
“Community-owned energy projects on average deliver 34 times the amount of revenue into communities compared to community benefit payments. We want to see this already successful model massively expanded in Scotland.
“If Cowal Community Energy does get granted the lease, it will set a groundbreaking example for the renewables sector in Scotland and inspire other communities to do the same.”
A spokesperson for Forestry and Land Scotland said: “The tender is currently live so we are not in a position to offer any comment. However, we will be notifying bidders of the outcome early next week.”
