West Coast Community Energy Ltd (WCCC) was established to develop a plan for a new community-owned windfarm in north-west Lewis, which would provide sustainable income for each of the involved communities over the longer term.

 

The organisations behind the project, which is expected to comprise of nine turbines, with hub heights of up to 110 metres, are Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn (Galson Estate Trust), Urras Oighreachd Bharabhais (Barvas Estate Trust) and Urras Oighreachd Chàrlabhaigh (Carloway Estate Trust).

 

Once the project has been completed, surplus income from the turbines will be distributed amongst the three organisations and used for social regeneration purposes within these community-owned estates across the West of Lewis. Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn is currently the only community landowner of this group to have an independent income source from its wind turbine array at Baile an Truiseil. As a result, it has been able to employ 15 staff and provides a range of social programmes to residents, such as a three-month winter health and wellbeing programme and holiday activities for children throughout the year, as well as delivering key projects and distributing grant support to locally run groups.

 

Located on moorland close to Barvas, the 43 MegaWatts (MW) project’s location was selected based on a range of technical considerations and was the preferred choice of key statutory bodies that were consulted at the feasibility stage.

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Despite low expectations for securing grid capacity, a firm grid offer was provided by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks and was accepted in September. The proposed connection timeframe is October 2033. Milestones within the grid offer set out very challenging timescales for undertaking ecological and soil surveys and submitting a planning application. Consequently, winter ecological surveys are already underway. A further application is now being made to Scottish Hydro Electricity Transmission Ltd. to assess the technical impacts of the interconnector from Arnish to the mainland.

 

The project will come under the imminent Connections Reform changes being implemented by Ofgem and the National Energy Systems Operator. This seeks to sift out renewable energy developers who are unable to progress projects at the desired rate to meet net zero targets. The project appears well placed to meet requirements, particularly in relation to land ownership agreements.

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​Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) and Community Led Local Development grants have been drawn down to deliver a range of economic and technical advice over the last five years. The project is being administered by Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn during the early stages of planning until West Coast Community Energy Ltd. can employ its own staff.

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