The three Sròndoire Community Wind Farm turbines are now all turning and generating both clean energy and substantial economic benefit for Argyll’s rural communities. After approval from SSE, Sròndoire has been able to increase production and export power onto the local distribution grid. This has coincided with wet and windy weather, allowing the Vestas crew to complete commissioning and testing ahead of the most productive winter period.

The total direct community benefit delivered in cash paid out by Allt Dearg Community Wind Farm to the Allt Dearg Educational Trust and the Ardrishaig Community Trust has topped the symbolic £ 1/2 million mark, after nearly three years of wind farm operation.

SSE have completed the local works at Sròndoire, allowing the 6MW Community Wind Farm to power up for the first time. The Vestas construction team will now complete the electrical commissioning in the three 2MW turbines. The wind farm is due to reach full capacity at the end of October.

Betty the Belter - The last of the three Sròndoire Vestas V80 2MW turbines was lifted into place on Wednesday 29th July. In a month where the politics of renewable energy have filled the headlines and signalled the end of new commercial scale local independent renewable energy generation, the Sròndoire Community Windfarm passed another critical construction milestone on the way to entering service this October. Britain is plagued by technical illiteracy in senior government, the knowledge gaps plugged by lobbyists promoting their own agendas, and policy being driven by political expedience, rather than rational technical analysis. Governments come and go, what remains is our long term need for diversified non-carbon energy generation.

The Srondòire turbine construction crew worked through Wednesday night in near perfect weather conditions to erect Srondoire 3 - the Dooker - the first of three Vestas V80 turbines to be built this summer.

The first of the tower sections for the three Sròndoire Community Wind Farm turbines was lifted into place on Thursday 9th July. Weather permitting all three turbines should be completed by the end of July and will enter service in October.

One of the Allt Dearg turbines has been out of action for a few weeks with a damaged blade. The Vestas service team worked overnight on Thursday last week to fit a replacement blade to Pat.

Allt Dearg Community Wind Farm performed very well in 2014. Despite the wind speeds being slightly lower than in 2013, Allt Dearg still achieved the highest capacity factor in mainland Britain. A recently released report from Argyll & Bute Council shows that Allt Dearg is the clear winner in terms of delivering economic benefit to local communities.

Allt Dearg and Srondoire Community Wind Farms will be operating the popular wind farm bus tour one Saturday a month from April through to September, with the exception of July. Due to local demand the size of bus has been increased to ensure as many as possible can enjoy this unique view of Argyll.

The Sròndoire Community Wind Farm has secured a combined investment of £340,000 from Tighnabruaich District Community Renewables Limited and Tarbert & Skipness Renewables Limited, two companies set up by neighbouring community development trusts to participate in renewable energy opportunities. The communities’ investments have secured a 12 ½ % shareholding in the wind farm company and have been funded by long term loans from the Renewable Energy Investment Fund (REIF), established by the Scottish Government to help facilitate community ownership in renewables.