A credit card slice of a wind turbine is all it takes to power an average home for a year. Now, thousands of people from across Britain are set to reap the benefits of co-owning Kirk Hill Wind Farm, in Scotland.
All about Kirk Hill Wind Farm
The eight turbine site in Ayrshire is powering up this month after more than 5,600 members of the public and businesses raised £13.2m to build it in 2022.
The owners will power their homes with up to 100% green energy, contributing to efforts against climate change. They will also save thousands of pounds on their electricity bills, over the site’s lifespan.
Ripple Energy makes it possible to own a source of clean power, no matter what your living circumstances. It does so by bringing thousands of people together in a cooperative, to share ownership and benefits from wind farms and solar parks.
Founder and CEO, 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. This, while 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.”
Real people power
Kirk Hill Wind Farm has the potential to power around 20,000 households and businesses. Or, in other terms, 20 million full revolutions of the Falkirk Wheel. Calculations show that. in les than 10 minutes it will generate enough electricity to power a home for a year. It will also save 29,667 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
During its lifetime, nearly £3m of funds, generated through green energy sales from the site, will be awarded to local organisations. These will be 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 one of the co-owners of Kirk Hill. She said:
“For more than a decade I’ve been on a personal net-zero journey, having solar panels installed at home in 2011. Then, my family all made the switch to electric cars between 2014-2016.
“Ripple Energy was a huge opportunity to negate my carbon footprint further. I couldn’t be more proud as one of the 5,600 people who brought this wind farm to life. Together, we’ve achieved what one person alone could not.
“Of course, the savings on my electricity bills will be welcome. But it’s the tangible climate action that matters most, and with more projects like Kirk Hill and opportunities for people to take control of their energy, we can make a real difference for the future.”
Ripple Energy is currently offering members of the public and businesses the chance to be part of their next wind farm project, Whitelaw Brae in the Scottish Borders.
The 14 turbine site near Tweedsmuir will be the biggest consumer-owned renewable energy project the UK has ever seen and will take just three minutes to power an average home with clean electricity for an entire year.
