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Published byVincent Harvey Modified over 9 years ago
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The Financial Potential of Common Grazings: the Beinn Ghrideag Wind Farm
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Beinn Ghrideag Location
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The Beinn Ghrideag Wind Farm Three turbines on Sandwick North Street common grazings Commercial-size 3MW turbines, 145m to blade tip £13.7million debt finance. Construction 2012 100% community owned: Point and Sandwick Power (PSP) All profit gift-aided to Point and Sandwick Trust (PST)
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Point and Sandwick Trust 20 member Board with balance between community and crofting interests: 8 Directors nominated by 6 local Grazings Committees and 2 Community Councils 10 Directors elected by the ordinary membership (open to all voters in Point and Sandwick district)
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Use of Profit from Beinn Ghrideag Community Plan 2009, updated 2011 Maximum 30% invested in Point and Sandwick area (eg, home energy efficiency program) Minimum 70% invested in wider Western Isles community (eg, job creation, hospice, life-skills for special needs, arts centre, drugs and alcohol rehab, St Kilda Centre project, etc)
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Size of Profit from Beinn Ghrideag £160k average annual profit per MW £480k average annual profit per turbine £1.4 million average annual profit £36 million profit over 25 years Assuming 36% capacity and £95/MWhr
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Comparison with Private Development Typical Wind Farm Community Fund £4,000 pa per MW £12,000 pa per turbine £36,000 pa for 3 turbines = £900,000 community fund over 25 years Beinn Ghrideag £160,000 pa per MW £480,000 pa per turbine £1.4 million pa for 3 turbines = £36 million community fund over 25 years
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Potential of Common Grazings in the Western Isles Example: 10 crofting townships using their common grazings for 3 turbines each 30 turbines (90MW) £14 million pa community income Compare with: £360,000 pa from private scheme £10 million pa average HIE/WIE expenditure in Western Isles
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Potential of Common Grazings in the Highlands and Islands Example: 50 crofting townships with 3 turbines each 150 turbines (450MW) £70 million pa in community income Compare with: £1.8million from private development HIE 2012/13 budget = £75.6 million
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Conclusion Income from commercial size, community- owned wind farms can transform Highlands and Islands rural economy ONLY Grazings Committees and crofting communities can unlock this potential Enabling role for Assessors and the Crofters Commission?
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