Location: Dunbar, East Lothian
MW capacity: 108.8 MW/year
Estimated income: £400,000 per year to £150,000 per year to BeGreen Dunbar
Commission in: 2008
Wind farms: Aikengall and Aikengall 2
Developer: Community Windpower Ltd
Structure and income
BeGreen Dunbar opened its energy advice centre in 2008. Its role is to deliver community benefits from Aikengall and Aikengall II Wind Farms. BeGreen Dunbar is owned by the developer, Community Windpower Ltd, and its income is around £150,000 per year.
Net zero projects
Some of this income goes towards funding energy efficiency, heat decarbonisation and renewable generation measures that are available to all local households. Up to £850 is offered (depending on the type of measure) to help install insulation, draught proofing, solar panels, batteries, and heat pumps. The organisation employs several staff, including someone to deliver free energy assessments to advise householders how their home could be made more energy efficient.
Delivery model
BeGreen Dunbar is unique because it has a physical office space on the high street. The space is used to deliver its services, support other community organisations, share information with the community, and host events. Community members are always welcome to pop in, even just for a quick chat. Having a location that people can come to, rather than using advice services online or on the phone, has been something people in Dunbar have really appreciated.
Like many places in Scotland, residents of Dunbar have had trouble finding contractors to install their grant-funded measures. As a result, BeGreen is considering developing direct relationships with contractors to help support householders to get their measures installed. BeGreen emphasised the importance of listening to the community’s priorities and adapting the uses of the funding accordingly.
Find out more on BeGreen Dunbar’s website.
