Cumbria wind farm transfers to community ownership

Over 400 individuals have raised £2.8mn in order to refinance the Mean Moor community wind farm in Cumbria; said to be the first wind farm in the country to be transferred to community ownership from a commercial developer.

Thanks to support from Energy4All and financing from ethical investment company, Thrive Renewables, three renewable Energy Cooperatives – Energy Prospects, High Winds and Baywind – have purchased Mean Moor wind farm. The wind farm is now 100% community owned.

Over 400 individuals invested in the scheme, the minimum investment was £500, with the maximum investment capped at £50,000. The purchase demonstrates the ability of the community sector to operate in the commercial world, says Thrive, and reflects the appetite for greater community ownership of renewable energy as an end in itself, especially as the challenges for developing new onshore renewable electricity projects continue to grow.

The three-turbines at Mean Moor are adjacent to the original Baywind project, the first community owned wind farm established in 1996. Matthew Clayton, MD of Thrive Renewables, said: ‘Thrive Renewables exists to provide individuals with a rewarding relationship with renewable energy. Our 6,300 investors are motivated by changing the UK’s energy system, both in terms of cleaning it up, and how it is owned, providing direct access to the value of renewable energy. We co-invested with Baywind over 20 years ago and are delighted to continue this legacy by facilitating the next generation of community owners.'