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The country’s largest subsidy-free onshore wind farm is now operating following the completion of Crossdykes in Dumfries and Galloway in October 2021.

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Michael Matheson MSP officially opened the £50million 10-turbine wind farm, 13km north-east of Lockerbie, which has the capacity to generate enough clean green electricity to power 45,000 homes.

Mr Matheson also announced Muirhall Energy’s Community Shared Ownership scheme, with the local community taking a five per cent stake in the project.

This will ensure a significant income stream of around £4 million over the lifetime of the windfarm and is the largest community investment in renewables since 2017. This is also the first time that a community has bought into a subsidy-free wind farm in Scotland.

Residents local to Crossdykes Wind Farm will also benefit from an annual pot of £322,000, amounting to £8 million over the lifetime of the project.

Professor Russel Griggs, South of Scotland Enterprise's Chair

"Crossdykes Wind Farm is a first in Scotland where the community have a share in a subsidy-free wind farm which shows again how communities with the right capacity and leadership can lead on new ways of doing things.

"Congratulations to Muirhall Energy and the local community for having the vision to make it all happen."

Chris Walker, Managing Director at Muirhall Energy

"Crossdykes is the first to be built using commercial lending rather than funded ‘off balance sheet’. The future of the renewable energy sector, that ensures the fastest possible progress to net zero, will be dependent on moving beyond public subsidy. That is exactly what we have done here.

“This project shows that there is a place for Community Shared Ownership in renewable energy developments despite the different business models that are required to get projects financed. It is important that the industry responds to the clear appetite in communities across the country to buy into local wind farm projects."

Michael Matheson MSP, the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for NetZero, Energy and Transport

“As one of the biggest shared ownership projects of its kind in Scotland, the Crossdykes project is contributing to our ambitions for at least half of all newly consented commercial renewable energy project to have an element of shared ownership with communities.

"Its innovative ownership model will also provide helpful insight into how the sector and communities can work together to develop similar partnerships in the future. 

“I am delighted that our Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) and the Energy Investment Fund were able to support the community to drive the project forward and look forward to it playing a strong role in the community’s just transition to a NetZero future.”

Chris Miles, leading on behalf of the communities

“We are excited to be such a fundamental part of this Shared Ownership scheme.

"This agreement is hugely important for all of our communities but critical for future generations.

"Muirhall Energy have shown that they are fully committed to sharing the success of their developments among all in the area and we are delighted to be working in partnership with them.”