Shared ownership helps promote stronger relationships between local communities and the renewables sector, offers the potential for local wealth creation and inward investment, and delivers lasting economic and social benefits to communities across Scotland.
We are uniquely placed to help communities achieve their shared ownership ambitions, having succeeded at implementing this through the flagship shared ownership project, Crossdykes Wind Farm.
Crossdykes Wind Farm Shared Ownership - Case Study
Muirhall Energy achieved the UK's first subsidy-free, shared ownership onshore wind project with the Crossdykes Wind Farm in 2021, located in Dumfries & Galloway.
This was achieved by working in partnership with the East Dumfriesshire 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.
In November 2018, a meeting was held to allow Muirhall Energy and their financial advisors to present the shared ownership opportunity to local community councils and other community organisations.
Communities in East Dumfriesshire had been receiving wind farm community benefit funds since 2008 and had come together to form the Dumfriesshire East Community Benefit Group (DECBG) It was agreed that they were best placed to explore the shared ownership offer further.
The shared ownership agreement was signed and completed in 2022 with the community acquiring a 5% share of Crossdykes Wind Farm.
When the wind farm was sold, the community chose to sell its stake, receiving a significant seven-figure sum through the process. This allowed them to repay their outstanding loan immediately and reinvest the profits from the sale into local initiatives.
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.
"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."
Chris Miles, Dumfriesshire East Community Group
Read more on the Local Energy Scotland website.
Visit LESIf you have questions or would like to know more about our Shared Ownership approach please contact: communities@muirhallenergy.co.uk