Shared ownership helps promote stronger relationships between local communities and the renewables sector, offers opportunity for local wealth creation and inward invesment, and delivers lasting economic and social benefits to communities across Scotland.
Muirhall Energy is committed to offering up to 10% shared ownership of projects to local communities or communities within the project area. We are uniquely placed to help communities achieve this, having succeeded at imlepenting this through our flagship shared ownership project, Crossdykes Wind Farm.
Read more on the Local Energy Scotland website.
Visit LESCrossdykes Case Study
Muirhall Energy is committed to delivering the benefits of shared ownership to the communities in which we work. We achieved the UK's first large-scale, subsidy-free, shared ownership onshore wind project with our Crossdykes Wind Farm in 2021.
This was achieved by working in partnership with our communities and Local Energy Scotland, who provided impartial advice to give the community comfort in moving forward. The community secured an enablement grant from the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), which was used to appoint consultants who provided independent advice and support.
The shared ownership agreement was signed and completed in 2022 with the community acquiring 5% share of Crossdykes Wind Farm.
The success of the approach taken at Crossdykes has led to the project being utilised as “best practice” case study in both the Scottish Government’s Onshore Wind Policy Statement and on Local Energy Scotland’s website.
Chris Miles, chair of Dumfriesshire East Community Benefit Group (DECBG), who co-ordinated the process on behalf of the communities commented:
Given the novel nature of the offer it has taken us a long time to bring together the expertise, consider the options, address the risks and develop a proposal that all parties can feel comfortable with. I could not have done this without the support for Local Energy Scotland, via the funding they provided and the many meetings we have held to discuss each step.
The communities think this deal is especially important for their future and the next generation. It may be a step towards other similar deals locally that could be transformative if the communities grasp the opportunities this will give.