A community wind farm scheme in the Scottish Borders has been shortlisted as a finalist in two industry awards.

'The Fisherman Three' project near Cockburnspath, developed by Berwickshire Housing Association (BHA) and its partners Community Energy Scotland (CES), has made it through to the finals of the 'Best Community Project' category of the Scottish Green Energy Awards.

In addition, it has been shortlisted for the 'Margaret Blackwood Award for Excellence in Housing Innovation' category as part of the CIH Excellence Awards.

The three-turbine scheme has an installed capacity of 7.5MW and will export just under 25 million kilowatt-hours each year - enough energy to power around 5,900 households.

It is the first of its kind to have been developed by a housing association as a means of funding new homes for social rent. The project will generate around £20 million of revenue over the next 25 years – enough to build 500 new homes over that period.

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CES will use its £10m share of the revenue to support communities across the country to develop and benefit from renewable energy projects.

Helen Forsyth, Chief Executive of BHA, said: "Not only will the wind farm power homes and provide us with a steady source of income to allow us to build much-needed new homes, it will also provide an initial community benefit payment of £37,500 per year. This will be given to the communities closest to the wind farm, to be spent on whatever they identify as their priorities. It will also save 12,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

"The wind farm has already been highly commended in the British Renewable Energy Awards earlier this year. It's great to be shortlisted in two such prestigious awards, but of course we're really hoping that it picks up at least one win - if not two."

Nicholas Gubbins, Chief Executive of CES, added: "It's great to see the wind farm being recognised again, by experts in both the housing and the renewable energy sectors, which is entirely appropriate as it is making such a difference in both areas.

"We hope that taking home an award will make the project even more inspirational to other community groups who might want to take forward their own renewable energy projects."

Winners of the Scottish Green Energy Awards, run by Scottish Renewables, will be announced on 30 November, with winners of the CIH Excellence Awards to be unveiled on 27 October.

Image: Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse with BHA's Chief Executivve Helen Forsyth and Nicholas Gubbins, Chief Executive of Community Energy Scotland.

(LM)