Shares in a Highland community wind co-operative are selling faster than similar projects in other parts of the UK.
And the 250 kilowatt wind turbine at Knockbain Farm, just above Dingwall in Ross-shire, will be the first in Scotland to be 100% owned by a co-operative.
Planning permission for the single turbine, measuring 147ft, was granted in December 2012 and it is due to be connected to the grid in May.
Shares for the Dingwall Wind Co-op went on sale at the end of September.
More than 50% of the £856,000 of shares were sold in the first week and there are just £21,500 – representing 3% of the total – still available with only five days to go until the offer ends on Saturday .
Company secretary Jon Halle said they set up the co-operative because they believed the wind resource of Dingwall should be used to benefit the people of the local area.
He said: “A lot of wind turbines are going up in Scotland and, by and large, it’s the big developers and overseas banks who benefit. Dingwall Wind Co-op is a unique opportunity for local people to co-own a wind turbine in Ross-shire and we have been overwhelmed by the response to our share offer.”
He added that the co-op would also contribute an estimated £8,000 per year to a community fund.
The company secretary said he believed their success in selling shares was due to people wanting to get something back from wind energy and Scots being canny.
The co-op currently has 135 members, the majority of whom are local.
