Progress on the First Community-Owned Urban Windfarm in the UK

The Government’s strategy on Sustainable Development is intended to encourage development of renewable energy projects, and also to encourage community participation is such projects. In some parts of continental Europe (notably Denmark) many wind energy projects are owned and operated by local communities, but to date, there is only one community windfarm in the UK. This paper reports on progress in the development of the first urban-based community-owned windfarm in the UK, at Castlemilk, Glasgow. In particular, the paper describes: • The site and the communities involved (Castlemilk, a peripheral estate on the southern edge of Glasgow, and Carmunnock, a conservation village within the city boundary but surrounded by Green Belt); • The organisation of the project, ensuring community involvement; • Progress to date (including feasibility studies and funding mechanisms); • Possible business models for ownership, operation and mechanisms for distributing benefits, and • Potential obstacles to successful completion. It is intended that this report may be of benefit to others who might consider similar developments in the UK.