The countdown is on: half the turbines erected at UK's largest consumer-owned wind farm

• Four of the eight turbines have been erected at a pioneering new wind farm in Kirkoswald, Ayrshire

• Kirk Hill Wind Farm will be the largest consumer-owned wind farm in the UK

• Members expected to save hundreds of pounds on their energy bills when the wind farm is operational in 2024

Construction of the UK's largest consumer-owned wind farm has begun in Kirkoswald, Ayrshire, as blades begin to be lifted onto the eight turbines at the pioneering Kirk Hill Wind Farm. 

More than 5,600 members from households and businesses across Scotland, England, and Wales part own Kirk Hill Wind Farm, representing a new model of people-owned renewable energy that is set to transform the UK's transition to clean energy. Members of the co-operative will benefit from the low cost, renewable energy it generates once operational in early 2024. The average predicted 1st year bill savings for its 5,600 members is £269. 

Managed and run by Ripple Energy, the consumer-owned wind farm will have a total capacity of 18.8MW with the potential to power around 20,000 households and businesses - or 20 million full revolutions of the Falkirk Wheel. In less than 10 minutes, the wind farm will be able to generate enough electricity to power a home for a year*, and will save 31,760 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year**. 

The build is the latest milestone for Scotland, already known as the 'Energy Capital of Europe'. A recent study by Ripple Energy has revealed widespread support in Scotland for renewable energy projects, with 67% of Scots voicing their support for renewable projects in their area, and 58% more likely to support the development of a wind turbine or solar park if they had the opportunity to own part of it and lower their energy bills.

The research was commissioned by Ripple Energy as part of a new initiative called Generation YES, which is calling on people across the UK to say yes to renewable energy projects being developed and support more clean power.  

Sarah Merrick, founder, and CEO of Ripple Energy said:

"Kirk Hill Wind Farm represents the future of green energy. It is owned by 5,600 proud individuals who will benefit from the clean, low-cost energy generated by its turbines. From the moment they left the factories and made their journey across the Mediterranean and into the Port of Ayr, our members have been avidly following their journey. There's a sense of history being made here on the west coast of Scotland as construction gets underway. 

Those who want a zero-carbon future can now part-own renewable energy projects, and directly benefit from lower and more stable electricity bills over the long-term. The future is consumer-owned renewable energy, and thousands of people in the UK have already joined the movement."  

Ripple Energy - the story so far

1.     Graig Fatha Wind Farm (south Wales) - single turbine, the UK's first consumer owned wind farm, generating and supplying its owners with green, low-cost electricity since March 2022. Members of Graig Fatha are expected to save £977 off their energy bills this year.

2.     Kirk Hill Wind Farm (west Scotland) - eight turbines, the second largest amount of equity raised by a UK co-operative society for a green energy project (£13.2m), to be energised early 2024.

3.     Derill Water Solar Park (Devon) - the first shared solar park in the UK where members share the power as well as the ownership and the brand's biggest project to date which achieved the highest ever single raise in the history of a UK co-operative (over £20m), to be energised late Summer 2024.

4.     Project four - Coming soon. Reserve your place here

The next chapter

The clean energy ownership platform, has just launched an initiative called Generation YES, calling on everyone to say yes to renewable energy projects being developed. Those in favour can pledge their support via Ripple Energy's website here, adding their voice to the wave of support for renewables across the UK. 

Following the recent news that the Scottish Government has announced that its Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan will be published by next Summer – more than two years later than anticipated, the initiative aims to draw attention to the growing demand from consumers for real action to be taken against climate change and offer them a platform to be heard. Alongside pledging their support for more renewables, consumers can now reserve a spot in Ripple Energy's fourth project here. 

*https://rippleenergy.com/references#ref-10

** https://rippleenergy.com/references#ref-19

About Ripple Energy

Ripple is a clean energy ownership platform. It enables people to part own large scale wind farms and now solar parks too, and have the low cost, green electricity generated supplied to their home or business via the grid, by its utility partners. It offers consumers an affordable and simple way to reduce their carbon footprint for the long term, whilst also helping to stabilise their electricity costs.

Ripple's first wind farm in Wales started generating in March 2022. Its c.900 owners have saved on average over £300 each in its first year of generating energy and will save £977 this year. Over 5,600 people have bought shares in Ripple's second wind farm which is being built in Scotland. Construction began in October 2022 and is expected to be switched on in early 2024. It has recently closed the share offer for its third project and first solar park in Devon which achieved the highest ever single raise in the history of a UK co-operative. Reservations for Ripple's fourth project are now open. 

Ripple was founded by Sarah Merrick in 2017. It won Startup of the Year 2021 at the Wind Investment Awards. Ripple's first wind farm co-operative won Inspirational Coop of the Year 2021 and was highly commended in the Renewable Energy Project of the Year at the Business Green Leaders Awards 2022.  Ripple's Graig Fatha Wind Farm was the winner of Renewable Energy Project of the Year at the 2023 UK Green Business Awards.

For further information, interviews, and images, please contact the Ripple Energy press office at ripple@alfredlondon.com