Ripple Energy’s eight-turbine Kirk Hill wind farm in Scotland is powering up after more than 5600 members of the public and businesses raised £13.2m to build it in 2022.
Not only will the owners be able to power their homes with up to 100% green energy, contributing to efforts against climate change, but they will also save thousands of pounds on their electricity bills over the site’s lifespan.
It’s part of an innovative approach to renewables from Ripple Energy, a UK company aiming to make green electricity ownership “affordable and accessible to everyone, everywhere”.
Ripple Energy founder Sarah Merrick said: “Kirk Hill Wind Farm is an example of how we can place real people at the heart of the UK’s energy transition.
“People want to act on climate change and want to be part of this industry but up until now, it’s been exclusive to utility companies and big businesses.
“So it’s incredible to see Scotland’s first consumer-owned wind farm come to life, knowing the difference it’ll make to its thousands of shareholders and Britain’s journey to net zero.
“We want lots more projects like this across Britain – more wind farms and solar parks owned by consumers. That way, they get the maximum benefit from this amazing transition we’re in.
“There is nothing stopping consumers owning every single new wind farm in the UK. All of our taxes and the grid will still get paid.
“We need more developers to be making their wind farms and solar parks available for consumer ownership, and then there really is no cap on how big this movement can get.”
Over its lifetime, nearly £3m of funds generated through the sale of green energy from the site will be awarded to local organisations, the Dailly Community Development Trust and the North Carrick Community Benefit Company.
It will go towards projects to enhance the local area.
Shirley Paterson from Glenrothes, Fife, is a co-owner of Kirk Hill. She said: “For more than a decade I have been on my own personal net-zero journey, firstly having solar panels installed on my home in 2011 and then my family all making the switch to electric cars between 2014-2016.
“Ripple Energy was a huge opportunity to negate my carbon footprint further and I couldn’t be more proud as one of the 5600 people who brought this wind farm to life. Together, we’ve achieved what one person alone could not.”