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.
The Sròndoire Community Wind Farm, developed by the Lithgow family of Ormsary and the Broadfoot family of Stronachullin, is a sister project to the very successful Allt Dearg Community Wind Farm part owned by the neighbouring Ardrishaig Community. This model of local and community ownership was pioneered at Allt Dearg, demonstrating how local ownership and control of renewable energy projects can help secure the maximum level of economic benefit for the host community.
The £10million Sròndoire project includes three 2 MW Vestas V80 turbines and a new substation presently in build and due to enter service in late Autumn 2015.
James Lithgow of Ormsary said: “Securing funding for community investment into a project like Sròndoire is not straightforward, and we are delighted that our neighbouring communities are now partners in Sròndoire and will share in the commercial rewards that renewable energy can bring in Argyll. While it will be hard to beat the UK-leading performance of Allt Dearg, we know Sròndoire will be a hugely successful project, delivering significant economic benefits to otherwise fragile rural communities. ”
Mary Broadfoot of Stronachullin said: "We set out to be locally owned, with the advantages this brings to the wider host community. Allt Dearg has delivered over £330,000 of funding to the Ardrishaig Community and Educational Trusts in its first two years of operation - over three times the Wind Industry’s recommended £5,000 per MW of annual direct Community Benefit. Whilst Sròndoire has a smaller capacity than Allt Dearg, it has double the level of community ownership”.
Ronnie Irvine of Tighnabruaich District Community Renewables Ltd said: “Our area has found it hard over the years to secure funding to carry out many much-needed projects to benefit the community. The opportunity to become an investor in the Sròndoire Community Wind Farm can work as a catalyst to secure wider funding and offers us the chance to make a difference to the lives of the people lucky enough to live in this beautiful place.”
Bob Chicken of Tarbert & Skipness Renewables Ltd said: “We are pleased to be a part of the Sròndoire project. It now allows us to look forward to the future, confident in the knowledge that, as long as the wind blows, we will have a regular supply of financial seedcorn from which to grow a healthier, more competitive, inclusive, vibrant and better educated community.”