The Fort, Seafield, and Wallacetown Community Association has officially launched a landmark renewable energy project that uses community-owned solar panels to create a self-sustaining financial future.

By installing solar arrays on Wallacetown Early Years Centre, St John’s Primary, and Newton Primary, the association expects to generate approximately £1 million in income over the next 25 years.

Wallacetown, which currently ranks in the lowest bands of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, will see every penny of the electricity revenue reinvested directly into local services. The funds are earmarked for tackling fuel poverty, enhancing community facilities, and supporting youth programmes, ensuring the transition to net zero provides tangible social equity.

The initiative was made possible through a partnership with South Ayrshire Council and significant financial backing, including a £216,000 grant from the SP Energy Networks Transmission Net Zero Fund and support from the Scottish Government’s Community Energy Generation Growth Fund.

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Alan Roseweir, of the Community Association, said: “Wallacetown has had its share of hard times, but this project is proof that our community’s spirit is stronger than any challenge. Every penny we earn will be spent by the community, for the community—helping our children, supporting families, and building a future we can all be proud of.”

Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, Gillian Martin MSP, who attended the launch at Riverside Church in Ayr, praised the model: "By empowering local groups to generate their own clean energy, we are not only cutting emissions but also reducing costs and creating resilient communities. This is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when people are given the tools and confidence to take control of their own energy needs."

Stuart McMillan, Ayrshire District General Manager at SP Energy Networks, added: “Wallacetown has taken an ambitious idea and turned it into a long-term source of local investment. We believe this model can inspire towns and villages across the country to take part in Scotland’s clean energy future.”

As the project enters its operational phase, it stands as a blueprint for how community ownership can ensure Scotland’s green transition remains fair, inclusive, and rooted in local priorities.