Give the community a “genuine” stake
The developers of all the major renewable energy projects in and around the Western Isles have been urged to offer the community a "genuine" ownership stake in their developments – which, it is argued, would simply follow a precedent already set and while also recognising the current direction of travel in national policy.
Community Power Outer Hebrides – a consortium of six community-owned projects in the islands – have now written to four companies urging them to follow the example of two large consented windfarms on Lewis, where a 20 per cent stake has already been agreed.
The letter has gone to BayWa r.e, the developers of the Druim Leathann windfarm near Tolsta; Magnora Offshore Wind, who secured a site 35 miles north of the Butt of Lewis; RWE Renewables, who are behind the Uisenis windfarm in Lochs; and Northland Power, the main developer of the Spiorad na Mara project.
Community Power Outer Hebrides, which is facilitated through Community Energy Scotland, say that among their six members they operate 21.3 megawatts of renewables capacity, reinvesting approximately £3 million per year into local organisations.
Last year saw the launch of Eilean Siar Energy, the local organisation which will be responsible for delivering the 20 per cent windfarm community stake which had already been agreed with two onshore windfarms in Lewis.
Now other developers in and around the islands have been urged to follow suit.
In the letter to the companies, Laura Nicolson from Community Energy Scotland, said: “Shared ownership is central to the Local Power Plan recently published by Great British Energy. The plan sets out an intention that every developer should offer shared ownership as standard.
“This is backed with a £1 billion finance package to deliver and support the Local Power Plan. This intention echoes the Scottish Government’s Good Practice Principles on Shared Ownership of Onshore Renewable Energy Developments (2019), the Onshore Wind Sector Deal (2023) and the Offshore Wind Policy Statement (updated 2026).
“A precedent for offering 20 per cent Shared Ownership in the Outer Hebrides has already been set at Stornoway Wind Farm (180MW) and Uisenis Muaitheabhal Wind Farm (189MW)”.
The letter added: “The current energy crisis, and resulting rise in oil and gas prices, is having a disproportionate impact on island communities and demonstrates just how important community energy generating can be in helping to alleviate these inequalities.
“Community energy is proven in the Outer Hebrides; we have the skills and expertise to deliver on projects and are keen to continue and grow the benefits of community ownership of renewable energy.”
Ms Nicolson’s letter said recent developments surrounding grid connections “have squeezed out almost all the community energy projects in the Outer Hebrides; not just new projects but ones approaching repowering as well. As a result, shared ownership opportunities in planned commercial projects have become even more important to communities here”
The letter urged “all other developers with projects in the Outer Hebrides to engage with us now to ensure a genuine shared ownership offer can be made.”
Gordon Matheson, from the Horshader Community Development Trust in north Lewis, commented: “The Local Power Plan’s emphasis on shared ownership is a real opportunity for communities to maximise the benefits of large-scale energy developments. This should not be seen as a gesture to appease communities, but as a standard, mandatory offer, as is already the case in parts of Europe and Canada.
“Great British Energy has a critical role to play. By underwriting community stakes, it can provide the certainty lenders need to unlock investment. At the same time, we need a stronger legal framework to ensure binding agreements are in place from the outset, so communities can secure a fair and lasting return.
This is a clear call for developers to get ahead of the curve, and for the Western Isles to once again demonstrate what is possible through community-owned energy.”