New scheme to help farmers fund wind turbines

Speaking at the Scottish and Southern Energy business reception, he said access to finance was proving to be a ‘major stumbling block’ when it came to farmers setting up new projects such as wind turbines.

As a starting point for the new initiative, the Scottish Government has commissioned a feasibility study to look into the options for financing projects on farms around the country.

This study will consider whether a loan fund could be established that will encompass the needs of both the wider community and landowner/farming businesses.

Mr Lochhead said: “Community renewables encompasses local ownership of energy, by a wide range of stakeholders including: community groups, landowners, farmers, and business.

“Many local communities across Scotland have already secured benefits, and we want to achieve much more and on a more ambitious scale.”

The reception also saw a commitment form renewables firm SSE Renewables to offer farmers financial incentives for citing wind turbines on their land.

The scheme will take advantage of feed-in tarrifs to offer landowners with a minimum holding of eight hectares (20 acres) a deal paying rentals of up to £50,000 a year to host the turbines.

Bob Bryce from SSE Renewables said: “this offer is a way of bringing in more people to market and to realise the potential for renewable energy in new ways.

“One of the major barriers for many people and communities is the risk associated with capital investment, and the technical process of delivery.

“This is where we come in, and the economic benefits of renewables can in turn be spread further across the wider community.”

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