Carraig Gheal Wind Farm

GreenPower carefully identified the Carraig Gheal Wind Farm site in the uplands of North Argyll, proved its feasibility and secured the necessary land and access rights. We then led the project to a successful S36 consent for 20 turbines from Scottish Ministers in 2008. It began operation in 2013.

GreenPower raised project finance of circa £90m from three commercial banks and the European Investment Bank to build the project. In a joint initiative with Forest and Land Scotland we constructed a 35km access track that doubles as a strategic timber haul route.

In its first ten years, the project generated well over a million megawatt hours of green electricity– enough to boil a kettle 12 billion times, or to drive a modern electric vehicle to the moon and back over 12,000 times.

20

Number of turbines

2.3MW

Power rating of turbines

46MW

Capacity of site

Project details

The construction of the Wind Farm was managed by GreenPower and began in April 2012 with the building of access roads, hardstandings and turbine foundations. GreenPower asset manages the operational project. The turbines are Siemens Gamesa 2.3MW machines, with 9 of them 110m to tip, and 11 to 125m.

One of the key challenges was the access route to the site. Turbine deliveries were made from Campbeltown, nearly 80 miles away. From the A816 the existing road network was not suitable for transporting turbines and so a 35km timber haul road was constructed. This was used initially for turbine deliveries and now serves as a strategic timber haul route. This displaces timber lorries from the public road and has provided a welcome respite for the communities along the west shore of Loch Awe, relieving pressure on public roads and reduced road repair costs otherwise borne by Argyll & Bute Council.

In 2020, GreenPower repaid the commercial debt and secured a new finance partner, RPMI Railpen, which manages £30 billion of assets on behalf of all UK railway worker’s pension schemes.

In 2022, GreenPower secured an extension to the S36 consent from Scottish Ministers taking the operating lifetime out to 40 years.

Community benefits

During the pre-application consultations GreenPower held with the local communities regarding the development of Carraig Gheal Wind Farm, GreenPower agreed to put in place a community benefit fund that would be available to the communities surrounding the wind farm. GreenPower makes contributions to the fund twice yearly in April and October currently totalling £72,200 per annum which is index linked.

The Carraig Gheal Wind Farm Community Benefit fund is divided between two funding schemes; the micro grant scheme with awards of grants up to £500* available to individuals, constituted and non-constituted groups. Each of the five community council areas surrounding the wind farm are currently allocated £2,000 each for these micro grants. *Please note that the £500 limit for micro-grants is a temporary increase from £250 for the 2026/27 year and it should not be assumed this limit of £500 will be available in the future.

The main grant scheme with awards of up to £10,000 available to constituted groups only.

These grant schemes are administered and managed by GreenPower. All grant application enquiries should be directed to Jennie Cowley at [email protected]. Jennie issues all application forms, receives all completed applications and is there to provide any guidance on the application process as necessary.

The Carraig Gheal Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund Steering Group meets at least twice a year to decide which of the main grant applications will be funded. The group is made up from members of the five community council areas bordering the wind farm. These community council areas are Avich & Kilchrenan, Taynuilt, Glenorchy & Innishail, Kilinver & Kilmelford and Kilmore

The next round of funding for the main grants opens on 1st May 2026 with the closing date being 31st August 2026. The Steering Group will then meet at the end of September to decide which grants to approve and by how much.

Application Forms and Guidance

Steering Group Membership

Fund Management and Decision Making Process

What difference is the fund making to local communities?