Renewable energy business GreenPower has celebrated the 10th anniversary of its first major wind farm project at Carraig Gheal.
Over the decade, its community benefit fund has earmarked about £500,000 for community projects, and the annual contribution will rise significantly as its proposed sister project to the wind farm comes online, says its CEO Rob Forrest.
The Carraig Gheal Wind Community Benefit Fund, which receives contributions from GreenPower twice a year, awards grants up to £500 to individuals and up to £10,000 to groups in its area.
Kilmore and Kilbride Village Hall has received nearly £42,000 in grants from the fund over the years, supporting a kitchen refurbishment, helping to build an extension, and enabling £145,000 in match funding from other sources.
Funding has also supported the Kilchrenan Village Hall with £28,000 for improvements.
Mr Forrest said: “I particularly wish to thank the local groups we’ve worked with at Carraig Gheal, who have challenged us, supported us, and helped us ensure the community gets real lasting benefits from this project. They have been an inspiration, and that work has helped us refine this vital part of our work elsewhere.
“With our proposed sister project nearby and plans for green hydrogen and low carbon transport around Oban and the surrounding region we are shaping a real renewables hub for North Argyll.”
The Carraig Gheal 46MW project, which was completed in October 2013 in the Loch Awe area, supplies the equivalent of 32,000 households in Scotland with clean energy every year and it has generated well over a million megawatt hours of green electricity over the last decade – enough to boil a kettle 12 billion times, or enough to drive a Tesla Model 3 to the moon and back over 12,000 times.
Mr Forrest says the project’s success has inspired GreenPower to propose a renewable energy hub in the area, which will include battery storage and the generation of green hydrogen.
The new Argyll Hydrogen Hub has just been submitted to the council for planning permission and will provide clean green hydrogen for heavy transport and other uses.
Other community projects that have benefitted from funding over theten years includes Dalavich’s Avant gardeners who got £11,071 for provision of polytunnel, top soil and mobile chipper and shredder.
Avant Gardeners member Chrissie Sugden said: “Carraig Ghael Windfarm Community Benefit Fund has made an enormous difference to the Community Garden in Dalavich right from the start. The fund enabled us to buy the land for the garden that we had previously rented, paid for a tool shed, funded trees for a small orchard and recently enabled us to buy a polytunnel plus topsoil to extend the growing season which encouraged more members to join us.”
Taynuilt Golf Club received £8,250 towards a greens mower and sprayer and also a tipping trailer, Friends of St Conan’s Kirk were awarded £28,720 towards projects including restoration of the Clan stalls, the library and chapel gates as well as funding that provided two disabled toilets.
Chairperson of Friends of St Conan’s Kirk Peter Hennessy said: “Over the last 10 years we have developed excellent relationships with the staff managing the fund
and value highly this source.The importance of local funders in the wider funding context cannot be overstated.”
Oban and Lorn Angling Club got £425.92 for replacement of four pairs of oars. Committee member Allan Coutts passed on his congratulations: “Without the grant we would have had to divert money from boat repairs or leases on lochs, either of
which would have had a detrimental effect on our sport.”
North Argyll Volunteer Car Scheme was awarded £9,717 towards costs of maintaining essential rural transport service for locals who are unable to use public transport to access essential services and social events. Management Committee Chairperson Christine Wills said: “The funding we have received has been a key factor in our financial security, enabling us to maintain a service for vulnerable people in our scattered rural communities.”
Taynuilt Village Hall received £6,185.88 towards upgrade to heating system and resurfacing of hall floor and stage, Oxygen Oban was awarded £2,250 from end of year micro grant donations towards an oxygen generator unit and Kilchrenan Art Group was given £2,036 towards workshops and art materials.
Bridge of Orchy Village Hall Trust was awarded £20,372.00 towards upgrade to renovation of the hall. John Kerr, Trustee of Bridge of Orchy Village Hall Trust, said: “We were so lucky to find CGCBF and GreenPower who helped the Village Hall achieve many of its objectives.”
Dalavich Improvement Group (DIG) received £63,583.60 towards upgrading electrics in community centre, play park in Dalavich for toddlers, a boat shed, showers and toilets within Dalavich Community Centre, replacement doors for
the Community Centre, replacement windows and exterior painting of the centre.
The group’s Libby Foy-Lowrey said: “We send you best wishes for many more successful years, and we look forward to our next project together!”
Erica Kerr who is a member of Carraig Gheal Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund Steering Group said: “GreenPower has helped a wide range of organisations throughout our five Community Councils. The benefit fund has been effectively run to include everyone’s opinions, from a fair cross section, representing all groups. It has been a pleasure to be part of that process. It is satisfying to see generous grant funding efficiently distributed.”