Main Grants Tee Off for Wind Farm Fund

12^th May 2026

The latest round of community benefit awards from the Carraig Gheal Wind Farm near Kilchrenan in North Argyll will see support for local music and festival events, and a new roof for Taynuilt Village Hall among a range of successful applications totalling around £90,000.

A steering group of local people, convened by local Scottish-owned wind farm developer and operator GreenPower, made the awards. Other successful applicants include support to St Conan’s Kirk for improved community space in its Crypt which has been closed for 100 years, better storage and welfare facilities at community run Taynuilt Golf Club and much-needed safety measures and access road repairs at Kilchrenan Village Hall. A solar roof and battery system will also be installed at Kilmelford and Kilninver Community Hall aimed at reducing energy costs in running the facility.

Rob Forrest, GreenPower CEO said: “We are truly grateful to the community members of the steering group for giving up their time, and putting a great deal of rigour and enthusiasm into the decision-making process. We are delighted with what they have approved this time round. At GreenPower we seek to provide real, tangible benefits to the local community where we develop and operate our projects – and it is always a pleasure to work alongside local people to make sure that happens. There is also a new window of opportunity for applications and we would encourage any constituted local community group with ideas and needs to come forward and make an application.”

Rhona Knox from Kilchrenan Village Hall said: “This project is about making sure our Village Hall remains a safe and accessible place for everyone. By addressing both the riverside risk and the flood-damaged access road, we’re investing in practical improvements that will protect the community for many years to come. We’re very grateful to GreenPower for their ongoing support of the Village Hall—both in improving our facilities and enabling the events and activities that make our community a vibrant and welcoming place for all.”

Peter Hennessy from St Conan’s Kirk said:

“GreenPower is a valued long-term support to development of our programme widening community access to heritage activity .The crypt project will open this space for the first time in 100 years. It is a significant addition addressing rural isolation, inclusion, wellbeing and educational opportunity to both young and old with fun approaches to heritage. We will also offer to the community a programme based around film, drama, music, heritage talks, art expositions aimed at widening access to local events and making St Conan’s a destination on the doorstep.”

Kenny Forsyth from Melfort Music SCIO said:

“Our first concert of 2026 had Su-a Lee, Duncan Chisholm, Donald Shaw and Hamish Napier in Kilmelford village hall. Giants of Scottish music all, it was a beautiful evening of music and a privilege to be there. What a difference this brings to the community and it could not have happened without the support of Carraig Gheal Wind Farm.”

Moira MacVicar of Taynuilt Golf Club said:

“Taynuilt Golf Club is extremely grateful to Carraig Ghael for their award of £10,000 to contribute to the cost of the new equipment shed. Taynuilt Golf Club is run by community volunteers and our priority this year is to replace the dilapidated equipment shed and provide a proper welfare facility for the greenkeeper. The shed is an important part of the club”s infrastructure and essential to the club’s sustainability. With this support we are aiming to have a secure, safe, storage facility which will benefit our members, visitors and the wider Taynuilt community.”

Melanie Currie of Taynuilt Village Hall said:

“We are delighted to have the support of Carraig Gheal Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund for our current re-roofing project. Taynuilt Village Hall is used by many people for a wide variety of activities and this grant recognises the importance of the building in our community!”

Janet Buchanan of Portsonachan Village Hall said:

“Planning to make changes to any community space is stressful. The Design and then Planning Permission are only the first stage. The next major, and costly step, is the Building Warrant. Without that any Project is doomed to fail. GreenPower has removed that stress from us at Portsonahan Village Hall by granting us £20.000, which is two thirds of the cost of the Building Warrant. This allows us now, to move forward in a planned and managed way to achieve our aim of making our community space suit for purpose in the 21st century. We are extremely grateful to GreenPower for their continued support and faith in us.”