Scotland’s largest community solar farm gets green light

Arran Community Renewables, a Community Benefit Society based on the Isle of Arran, has been granted planning consent for a 6 MW solar farm, with the aim of generating 5,600MWh of clean renewable energy from 2027.

Glenkiln Solar Farm will be located around 1km west of Lamlash and will provide enough renewable energy to meet one quarter of the island’s domestic power needs. The £5million project will be the largest 100% community owned scheme of its kind in Scotland.

Arran Community Renewables was set up in 2020 by trustees of Arran Eco Savvy and is wholly owned by its members. It provides an opportunity for residents to own a stake in the provision of local renewable energy, alongside the establishment of a new community benefit fund for the island.

With planning consent secured, the focus of the project now turns to securing construction finance, increasing local membership and maximising opportunities for community benefit. Arran Community Renewables will be supported at this stage by Democratic Finance Scotland, as they lead one of largest community share raises of any UK energy project to date.

Chris Grainger, Director, Arran Community Renewables said:

"With this decision, we move one step closer to realising the full potential of true community-led renewables and the benefits that a project like this can bring to the island. The hard work is not over, but we look forward to the next stage - securing construction finance, growing our local membership and getting boots on the ground". 

The scheme has been developed to date with support from both North Ayrshire Council and Local Energy Scotland, with development funding provided by Scottish Government's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES).

Morven Lyon, Head of Democratic Finance, DTA Scotland commented:

“We are delighted to be supporting Arran Community Renewables as they prepare to launch their community share offer for what will be Scotland’s largest community solar farm. This project is a stellar example of a community taking the lead in the renewable energy transition, ensuring that the long-term benefits are shared equitably and sustainably.”

Through its community shares support service, DTA Scotland has supported 17 community energy projects to raise finance through community shares . These projects have collectively raised more than £12 million through community shares from almost 5000 citizen investors.

Glenkiln Solar Farm is the first energy project to be developed by Arran Community Renewables, with ambitions that this and further projects will play a pivotal role in North Ayrshire Council’s pioneering Green Islands Net-Zero Project.

Find out more about Arran Community Renewables at Arran Community Renewables

Photo by A Robertson