Arran Community Renewables, a Community Benefit Society based on the Isle of Arran, has secured planning consent for a 6 MW solar farm. The Glenkiln Solar Farm, located approximately 1km west of Lamlash, is projected to generate 5,600MWh of clean renewable energy annually from 2027.

The £5 million project is set to become the largest 100% community-owned solar scheme in Scotland and is expected to produce enough renewable energy to meet a quarter of the Isle of Arran's domestic power requirements.

Established in 2020 by trustees of Arran Eco Savvy, Arran Community Renewables is wholly owned by its members. The initiative offers island residents the opportunity to own a stake in local renewable energy generation, alongside the creation of a new community benefit fund for Arran.

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Following the granting of planning consent, the project's focus will now shift to securing the necessary construction finance, expanding local membership, and maximising community benefits. Arran Community Renewables will receive support from Democratic Finance Scotland during this phase, as they lead what is anticipated to be one of the largest community share raises for a UK energy project to date.

Chris Grainger, Director of Arran Community Renewables, commented: "With this decision, we move one step closer to realising the full potential of true community-led renewables and the benefits that a project like this can bring to the island. The hard work is not over, but we look forward to the next stage - securing construction finance, growing our local membership and getting boots on the ground."