Public reports pack
Argyll and Bute Council · 30 September 2025
Back to Argyll and Bute Windfarm and Renewables Trust — 30 September 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Argyll and Bute Council Comhairle Earra-Ghàidheal Agus Bhòid Executive Director: Douglas Hendry Kilmory, Lochgilphead, PA31 8RT Tel: 01546 605522 DX 599700 LOCHGILPHEAD 22 September 2025 NOTICE OF MEETING A meeting of the ARGYLL AND BUTE WINDFARM AND RENEWABLES TRUST will be held BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on TUESDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2025 at 7:00 PM, which you are requested to attend. Douglas Hendry Executive Director BUSINESS 1. APOLOGIES 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 3. MINUTE OF PREVIOUS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, HELD ON 21 OCTOBER 2024 (Pages 3 - 6) 4. EAST KINTYRE WINDFARM TRUSTEES (Pages 7 - 14) 5. WEST KINTYRE WINDFARM TRUSTEES (Pages 15 - 26) 6. INVERARAY WINDFARM TRUSTEES - TO FOLLOW 7. ALIENERGY OVERVIEW 2024/25 (Pages 27 - 30) 8. SSE RENEWABLES UPDATE (Pages 31 - 32) 9. ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS Argyll and Bute Windfarm and Renewables Trust Councillor Jan Brown Councillor Anne Horn Contact: Julieann Small, Democratic Services Assistant Tel: 01546 604043 Public Document Pack
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MINUTES of the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of ARGYLL AND BUTE WINDFARM AND RENEWABLES TRUST held BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on MONDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2024 Present: Councillor Jan Brown (Chair) Councillor Anne Horn Margaret Pratt, West Kintyre Windfarm Trust Alastair Bennett, East Kintyre Windfarm Trust Attending: Shona Barton, Governance Manager, Argyll and Bute Council Anna Watkiss, Senior Planning Development Officer, Argyll and Bute Council Rachel McNicol, Chief Operations Officer, ALIenergy Gillian Masterton, Stakeholder and Communities Manager, ScottishPower Renewables Dianah Alinaitwe, Stakeholder and Communities Team, ScottishPower Renewables 1. APOLOGIES The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and general introductions were made. Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of:- Craig Mullen, Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) Dr Lynda Mitchell, ALIenergy 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest intimated. 3. MINUTE OF PREVIOUS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, HELD ON 7 SEPTEMBER 2023 The Minute of the previous Annual General Meeting of the Argyll and Bute Windfarm and Renewables Trust held on 7 September 2023, was approved as a correct record. 4. EAST KINTYRE WINDFARM TRUSTEES Page 3 Agenda Item 3
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The group gave consideration to the annual report and audited accounts of East Kintyre Windfarm Trust to the year ending 31 March 2024, having heard from Alastair Bennett. Decision The Argyll and Bute Windfarm and Renewables Trust agreed to note the detail provided. (Reference: Annual Report and Audited Accounts by East Kintyre Community Council Windfarm Trust, submitted) 5. WEST KINTYRE WINDFARM TRUSTEES The group gave consideration to the annual report and audited accounts of West Kintyre Windfarm Trust to the year ending 31 March 2024, having heard from Margaret Pratt. Decision The Argyll and Bute Windfarm and Renewables Trust agreed to note the detail provided. (Reference: Annual Report and Audited Accounts by West Kintyre Community Council Windfarm Trust, submitted) 6. INVERARAY WINDFARM TRUSTEES The group gave consideration to the annual report and audited accounts of Inveraray Windfarm Trust to the year ending 31 March 2024. Decision The Argyll and Bute Windfarm and Renewables Trust agreed to note the detail provided. (Reference: Annual Report and Audited Accounts by Inveraray Community Council Windfarm Trust, submitted) 7. ALIENERGY The Trust gave consideration to a report by ALIenergy which provided an overview of projects and activities for the period 2023/24 and the draft consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024. Decision The Argyll and Bute Windfarm and Renewables Trust agreed to note the information provided. (Reference: Report and Draft Consolidated Financial Statements, ALIenergy, submitted) 8. SSE RENEWABLES UPDATE 2023/24 Page 4
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Consideration was given to a short update provided by SSE Renewables in relation to the provision of Community Benefit within the Kintyre area. Decision The Argyll and Bute Windfarm and Renewables Trust agreed to note the information provided. (Reference: Report by SSE Renewables, submitted) 9. ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS Gillian Masterson of ScottishPower Renewables provided a brief update on local site activity within the area. She advised that to date ScottishPower Renewables had invested over £3.8m in community benefit across the region from the 5 sites within the Mid Argyll and Kintyre area. Gillian advised that her team were currently in the process of compiling case studies as part of the ScottishPower Renewables year-end report. She highlighted the positive contributions of both East and West Kintyre Windfarm Trusts and advised that both the Kintyre Way and the Educational Bursary projects would feature as part of the great examples of positive initiatives from across the UK. She further advised that an application for life extension in respect of Beinn an Tuirc Phase 1 had been submitted and thanked both Alastair Bennett and Margaret Pratt for their help in circulating information within local communities. Alastair highlighted the additional requirements which have been placed upon the Windfarm Trusts by ScottishPower Renewables, noting that these requirements appeared to be overly bureaucratic. He outlined discussions with the previous Stakeholder and Communities Manager, in regard these issues. It was agreed that Gillian would liaise with Alastair and Margaret directly to have a discussion around the issues raised. Alastair also advised of the difficulties faced by Windfarm Trusts in negotiating with developers who were proposing new Windfarms for operation within the area, in particular around community benefit payments. He also noted that there was an aspiration in the area for some form of shared ownership model but that had not as yet happened. Discussion was had around the options for the management of community benefit payments, with it being noted that a single body regulated by OSCR could see monies distributed in line with individual community aspirations aligning with local Community Development Plans. The Council’s Senior Planning Development Officer noted that there was no role for the Council in terms of community benefit payments and how these were distributed as this was a matter for the individual power companies. Nonetheless she advised that she would be happy to have discussions with both Alastair and Margaret in regards to possible options for the future management of community benefit. Having noted that there was no other competent business for discussion, the Chair took the opportunity to thank everyone for their attendance. Page 5
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East Kintyre Windfarm Trust Annual Report 2025 East Kintyre Community Council (EKCC) currently consists of 5 elected and 1 co-opted- members. These members, along with 3 independent trustees, make up East Kintyre Windfarm Trust. During the financial year ending 31 March 2025, EKWFT received £84,605 in community benefit payments from Beinn an Tuirc 1 and 2, Deucheran Hill and Tangy 2 Windfarms. A total of 18 applications for grant funding were received during the year (6 more than the previous year) with 15 being approved and 3 refused. Grants totalling £95.865 were agreed with £82,015, including some carried over from the previous financial year, paid out. This reflects a return to pre-pandemic levels as clubs and community groups re-es- tablished themselves and is despite the opening of the East Kintyre Community Fund, which paid out grants of just over £113,000 during the same period. The trend continues to be towards larger capital projects involving the likes of Carradale Village Hall and Car- radale Play Park projects. During the year the Village Hall received £30,823 towards com- plete refurbishment of the toilets and the Play Park received £25,000 towards the re- placement of much of the equipment. Support was also provided to Peninver Village Hall for the installation of LED lighting which cost £4,920. Once again, sports, leisure and local events featured highly in the grants paid during the year with £1,600 being provided to Carradale Primary School Parent Council to cover transport costs for swimming lessons for the pupils. £2,250 was given to Kintyre Sea- sports for instructor training and the Kintyre Way received £802 to help maintain the East Kintyre section off the route. The Kintyre Songwriters Festival received £750 towards the 2024 festival. Health and the welfare of older people were also a feature, with £4,783 be- ing made available to the local First Responders for the purchase of 2 new defribulators and Shopper-Aide were once again supported with a donation of £4,500. With walking and outdoor recreation identified in the East Kintyre Local Development Plan as a priority by both residents and visitors, EKWFT spent £6,213 on the maintenance of a series of paths, walks and gardens in the Carradale area. Maintaining the Well Park play- ing fields and pavilion, which are owned by EKCC, is also included in this budget. EKWFT will continue to support larger legacy projects such as the Community Shop/ Post Office, and the Village Hall, which are more likely to deliver long term benefits to the community, in line with the East Kintyre LDP. In late 2024, a community planning team was established to consult with the public and identify the priorities for the next 5 years. It is expected to report later this year and its action plan will very much determine future ar- eas for grant funding. A development fund, established in 2016 and with a current bal- ance £73,365, will be available to assist with any larger projects. Each year, 10% of all community benefit funds received are transferred into a retention fund (2 bank term deposit accounts) for use by future generations. At 31 March 2025 it had a balance of £93,870. Page 7 Agenda Item 4
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Wherever possible, trustees look for evidence of match funding from applicants, although a degree of flexibility is increasingly necessary as it becomes harder for them to obtain such funding. SPR has updated and extended its Due Diligence Statement, which has to be returned to them annually by the Secretary along with a report of grants awarded and paid. This statement is read out at each tranche meeting and all trustees have to indicate that they still comply with its requirements. In order to ensure that all trustees are aware of their duties and responsibilities, a training event was held for them along with trustees of EKCF, in November 2024. Training will continue to take place as and when necessary. NOTE - This report should be read in conjunction with the attached audited accounts. Alasdair Bennett Secretary & Treasurer East Kintyre Windfarm Trust 1 September 2025 Page 8
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Hannah Fawcett
,,
Licensed Accountont
Mr Alasdhair Bennett
East Kintyre Wind Farm Trust
Brudhearg
Carradale
By Campbeltown
Argyll
PA28 6QX
4th May 2025
Dear Alasdhair
Please find attached signed independent examiners review certificate and accounts for East Kintyre
Wind Farm Trust for year end 31 March 2025.1can confirm that no matter has come to my attention
in the course of my examination.
I have also attached a copy of my fee note for the service this year.
Kind Regards
{ffi-*r4u'*ffi--
Hannah Fawcett FMAAT
AAT Licenced Accou ntant
Rockbank, Low Askomil, Campbeltown, Argyll, PA28 6EP
Tel:07858 022374
Email : hfawcettFMAAT@gmail.com
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lndependent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of
East Kintyre Windfarm Trust
for the year ended 31 March 2025
I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set
out on pages 1 to 3.
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
East Kintyre Windfarm Trust are responsible forthe preparation of the accounts and to state whether
particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of statement
My examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Trust and a comparison of
the accounts presented with those records. lt also includes consideration of any unusual items or
disclosures in the accounts and seeks explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters.
The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and
consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
lndependent Examiner's Statement
ln the course of my examination no matter has come to my attention
Signed:
Hannah Fawcett FMAAT
Rockbank
Low Askomil
Campbeltown
PA28 6EP
Date:4 May 2025
rl-t.-Ta-._a_ r -tr*.lCe{-.--
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East Kintyre Windfarm Trust - Receipts & payments Accounts to 31 March 2025
Item Financial Year Financial Year Notes
2023-2024 2024-2025
Balance at 1 April 252483.43 267919.93
Receipts Grant lncome 79238.10 84605.00 1
Bank Interest 1667.52 3219.06 2
Sundry 1 10.00
Total lncome 333499.05 355743.99
Payments Grants Paid 57850.23 82015.25 3
General Maintenance 6947.37 6213.21 4
Miscellaneous 781.52 919.78 5
Total Payments 65579.12 89148.24
Balance at 31 March 267919.93 266595.75
Balance Sheet Bank of Scotland (Current Account) 114982.48 99360.24 6
Development Fund (Virgin Money Dep. Acc.) 69245.56 73365.40
10% Retention Fund (Virgin Money Term Deposits) 83691.89 93870.11 7
267919.93 266595.75
I certify that the above correctly identifies the financial transactions for the year ended 31 March 2024 and the financial position at that date.
lndependent Examiner Convenor Secretary/Treasurer
Signature
t
Name I Brodie A Bennett
2b -4 -lo( {
Date:
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Note 4 - General Maintenance Note 5 - Miscellaneous Paid OutWork DoneContractorChq. No.Date 350.00Bay Road [VlaintenanceAdam GullBACS16.04.24 1 18.45Maintenance trlemorial Gardenslan H BuchananBACS13.05.24 559.61Electricity Well Park PavilionSSE EnergY SolutionsBACS17.06.24 180.00Path maintenance JuneAdam GullBACS21.06.24 135.00Flower tubs - West CarradaleMR J N PatersonBACS27.06.24 1 30.1 0Well Park mower rePairsJames SemPle & SonBACS27.06.24 103.01Well Park mower oilJames SemPle & SonBACS09.07.24 180.00Path maintenance JulYAdam GullBACS17.07.24 207 ^81ElectricitY Well Park PavilionSSE Energy SolutionsBACS21.08.24 685.80Repairs Well Park mowerBACS James SemPle & Son25.09.24 150.00Window cleaning Saddell AbbeYMOK Cleaning ServicesBACS28.09.24 360.00Path maintenance AugustAdam GullBACS29.09.24 300.00Repair Bay Road PotholesAdam GullBACS09.10.24 123.32Repairs Well Park mowerBACS James Semple & Son16.10.24 368.84New gate etc - right of waYAudrey WillanBACS17.10.24 198.05Electricity Well Park PavilionSSE EnergyBACS05.11.24 Well Park grass cuttingDonald MacAlisterBACS08.11.24 320.00Play Park grass cuttingDonald MacAlisterBACS16.11.24 200.00Fallen tree removal - Hall PathAdam GullBACS17.12.24 350.00Grass cutting Network CentreJohnny DurnanBACS19.12.24 263.72Electricity Well Park PavilionSSE Energy SupPlYBACS05.02.25 129.50Maintenance Memorial GardensBACS Eva Wolfram25.03.25 6213.21Total Date Cheque Number Payee Reason Paid Out 09.05.24 BACS Hannah Fawcett lndependent Examination of annual accounts 120.00 16.05.24 BACS Carradale Village Hall Hire of meeting room for EKWFT 17.00 16.09.24 BACS Russ Baum Community website (eastkintyre.com) costs 182.30 21.10.24 BACS Carradale Village Hall Meeting room for trustee training 25.50 01.11.24 BACS Wyvex Media Placement of public notice in Courier (November) 158.40 13.11.24 BACS Carradale Village Hall Hire of meeting room for EKWFT 17.00 16.11.24 1 0675 Alasdair Bennett Annual subscription for Zoom community account 187.08 25.02.25 1 0676 Alasdair Bennett Printing of EKWFT notices etc for Open Day 45.10 18.03.25 BACS Wyvex Media Placement of public notice in Courier (May) 158.40 31.03.25 Bank of Scotland Bank charges 9.00 Total 919.78 800.00 Page 12
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Note 6 - Gontingent liabilities Note 7 - 1Oo/o Retention Fund (2 Virgin Money 2 year Term Deposits) App. No. Applicant Grants agreed but outstanding at 31.03.24 Amount 500 Kilbrannan Sound CIC Live music and others arts events 3s00.00 504 EKCC Well Park concept drawings 1800.00 506 Carradale Village Hall Hearing loop 3036.00 Total 8336 Date Name Details Balance at 31 March2024 31.03.25 Term Deposit No.1 Virgin Money 2Year Term Deposit Account No. 40599519 renewed in August 2024 when 1oo/o of 2023/24 grant incom e (?7 ,924) was added (lncludes fT 7 1 .33) interest) 55315.00 18.03.25 Term Deposit No.2 Virgin Money 2 Year Term Deposit Account No. 201 1 5765 (Balance includes 11,482.89 in interest) 38555.11 Total 93870.1 1 Page 13
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Notel -Grantlncome Date Windfarm Amount Comments 18.04.24 Bienn an Tuirc 2 Paid by A&BC into current account 07.06.24 Tangy 2 3155.00 Paid by SSE into Deposit Account 15.08.24 Beinn an Tuirc 1 23712.45 Paid by A&BC into current account 21.08.24 Deucheran Hill 12213.47 Paid by A&BC into current account Total 84605 Note 2-Bank Interest Account lnterest Comments 31.03.25 Virgin Money Deposit Acc. No. 40011275 964.84 See enclosed Statement of Credit lnterest Paid 31,03.25 Virgin Money 2Yr Term Deposit Acc No 20115765 1482.89 See enclosed Statement of Credit lnterest Paid 31.03.25 Virgin Money 2Yr Term Deposit Acc No 40599519 771.33 See enclosed Statement of Credit lnterest Paid Total 3219.06 Note3-GrantsPaid Date No. Payee Project Grant Paid 16.05.24 492/ 475 Carradale Primary School Parent Council Transport for swimming lessons in Campbeltown 1600.00 26.09.24 49s Carradale Activity Play Park New Play Park equipment 25000.00 05.11^24 491 Kintyre Songwriters Festival Festival in Campbeltown 2024 750.00 13.11.24 502 Shopper-Aide Ltd Services for East Kintyre elderly residents 4500.00 13.11.24 509 lnstructor training for school children 2250.00 18.11.24 506 Carradale Village Hall Contribution towards hall insurance 1474.00 26.11.24 507 CCT No 2 Acc (First Responders) Purchase of 2 new defribulators 4783.00 04.03.25 494 Carradale Village Hall New toilet facilities 30823.37 05.03.25 496 CCT Heritage Centre Re-pointing and new gutters 5000.00 10.03.25 498 The Kintyre Way Maintenance of East Kintyre section of route 802.92 10.03.25 499 Peninver Village Hall New LED lighting 4920.00 26.03.25 505 East Kintyre Community Council Community Christmas lights 11 1.96 82015.25 45524.08 DATE Kintyre Seasports Page 14
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ALIenergy Overview 2024/25 Argyll, Lomond and the Islands Energy Agency (ALIenergy) is a sustainable energy charity based in Oban. ALIenergy currently has a team of 18, working on a range of projects in Affordable Warmth/Alleviation of Fuel Poverty; Education and Skills Development; and Local Energy. ALIenergy’s aims are: - To help people with fuel poverty and energy efficiency issues - To encourage community renewables and local energy economy - To reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change. Affordable Warmth Advice Service ALIenergy has a long history of working to alleviate fuel poverty. In recent years, fuel poverty levels have increased significantly due to the energy price crisis. Our beneficiary households are vulnerable/disadvantaged for reasons such as low income, poor health, disability, unemployment, single parenting and old age. We assist those who cannot afford to heat their homes. They are often living in cold, damp rooms. They frequently must choose between eating and heating. Fuel poverty is associated with multiple deprivations: poor physical and mental health, loneliness and isolation, poor educational outcomes, low employability and debt, and ultimately, shockingly, loss of life through excess winter deaths, due to cold and damp living conditions. We provide intensive support to guide our most vulnerable households towards greater energy security, often working with each client over a period of several months, with multiple advice sessions. Our work consists of a combination of home visits, telephone advice calls and associated follow-up work. The value of client gain that we achieve, directly to the most vulnerable households in greatest need, is well over one million pounds per year. This is a combination of immediate crisis interventions and estimated cost savings going forward. We assist people directly and also take referrals from a range of other organisations including food banks, housing associations, citizens advice bureaux and health professionals. We assist with accessing available heating and insulation grants (in partnership with Home Energy Scotland), advise on energy saving behaviours; help understanding heating, appliances, bills, meters, suppliers and tariffs; assist with complaints and metering / billing issues; help people to access fuel vouchers, free white goods, debt relief and help with ongoing costs. We also deliver free training events, for frontline workers that support vulnerable or disadvantaged people, to help them to recognise and refer fuel-poor households. This is an Page 27 Agenda Item 7
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extremely effective way for us to engage with hard-to-reach individuals who may otherwise be reluctant to ask for help for a variety of reasons. We are currently in a crisis of fuel poverty. The latest fuel poverty statistics from the Scottish House Condition Survey and Scottish Government (2023) show that whilst overall fuel poverty in Scotland is 34%, up from 31% in 2022, we see that for social tenants it is 61%; for prepayment customers it is 57%; for electric heating it is 52%. The majority of our clients are in these categories. There are reasons why fuel poverty levels are particularly high in our area: it is a mostly remote rural area with dispersed population and poor infrastructure. The area is mostly off the gas grid, so people are forced to use more expensive heating options. Electric heating can be up to 4 times as expensive as gas heating. We also have elderly demographics, low income, poorly insulated housing, and bad weather. The rising cost of food and energy prices has been catastrophic, with many people now unable to afford to use their heating. Problems are exacerbated by issues associated with slow smart meter rollout and around the end of the radio teleswitch signal, which controls the functionality of electric storage heaters in many homes. If this signal ends before homes have access to mitigating technology or alternative control system, it is likely to cause significant disruption to heating and may also have severe cost implications. Funders for our Affordable Warmth Service in Argyll and Bute during the year 2024-25 have included Energy Redress Scheme, Argyll & Bute Council, Robertson Trust, Bank of Scotland, Big Energy Saving Network, SGN Safe and Warm Fund, Smart Energy GB, Scottish Government’s Investing in Communities Fund, Drax Foundation, and SSE Renewables. Community Energy for Energy Solidarity (CEES), funded by Horizon 2020. Working with 10 partners from Portugal, France, Belgium, Croatia and UK, this 3-year European project identified, compared and analysed successful community energy initiatives to tackle fuel poverty in different countries, and created a toolkit for replication, the Energy Solidarity Toolkit, designed to assist the setup of new affordable warmth services across the UK and Europe. The project was completed in late 2024 and the project website contains a wealth of information, at www.energysolidarity.eu Consumer Comfort Choice (funded by Scottish Government CARES, and Centrica’s Energy for Tomorrow grant. Across much of rural Scotland, mains gas is unavailable, and many households use electric storage heaters, which can be difficult to control and expensive to run – contributing to the issue of fuel poverty. Charging may be controlled via smart control technology, providing greater comfort and control, less energy waste and reduced costs. Working with technical partner Connected Response, we are installing smart controls in households with storage heaters in Oban and monitoring the resulting improvements in energy bills and household comfort. Page 28
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ALIenergy's Education and Skills Development Programme ALIenergy’s Education Programme is funded by ScottishPower Renewables Beinn an Tuirc 2 windfarm Community Benefit Fund 'Regional Tranche' in Mid Argyll and Kintyre, and Drax Foundation in the rest of Argyll and Bute from September 2024. This project encourages and facilitates young people to seek careers in STEM subjects and the renewable energy sector, providing classroom workshops and careers events. The programme focusses on ages P7-S2. This is the period leading up to subject choices when pupils choose STEM subjects at school - or drop them altogether. This is the window of opportunity to instil excitement and enthusiasm in STEM subjects, to nurture ambitions and raise awareness of multiple opportunities. Each cohort of pupils is provided with a programme of STEM-related activities and events designed to follow through, from P7 primary school-leavers, through transition to secondary schools, through S1 and leading up to subject choices in S2. The programme covers STEM subjects generally alongside a focus on energy efficiency, renewable and sustainable energy, and climate change. P7/Transition: Towards the end of P7, pupils are provided with a colourful and dynamic STEM workbook full of fun-packed activities and information. Then, ALIenergy education officers provide activity stands at transition events and summer community events, where young people can interact with our officers, try some fun hands-on STEM related activities, learn, and be inspired. S1: ALIenergy education officers visit secondary schools to provide practical classroom workshops designed to widen perspectives around STEM subjects with a focus on energy efficiency, renewables and sustainable energy. This year we have upgraded our equipment to provide new hands-on renewable energy technology demonstration kits and have developed new teaching materials to highlight some of the challenges around the different methods of renewable energy generation. S2: ALIenergy organises a major STEMFEST careers event specifically targeting S2s, designed to assist with subject choices and to inspire the next generation of STEM employees. Pupils meet with a wide variety of local companies whose operations need employees with STEM skills, qualifications and training. The day is designed around a mini-conference approach with workshops and marketplace - giving young delegates the chance to meet employers and find out first-hand about different learning and career paths that lead to green skills and jobs in the renewable sector. Through this type of engagement STEM related companies can reach out to young people, as part of the process of addressing future skills requirements in these important areas. In addition, ALIenergy attends and contributes to a variety of other careers events organised by schools and others. Page 29
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Other Activities SAMS PV – Funded by Scottish Government CARES – installing new locally owned renewable energy generation SAMS PV is a partnership project between ALIenergy and our neighbours the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS). The original plan for a large PV array on the main south facing SAMS roof was unfortunately ruled out due to grid constraints – a significant barrier to locally owned renewable energy developments in our area. However the project was amended to install a smaller array on the roof of the Ocean Explorer Centre and this was installed in February 2025. Shared Ownership of Commercial Renewable Energy Developments Distinct from the better-known community benefit schemes which typically donate to local community initiatives, shared ownership is a significant commercial undertaking - but with potential to reap significant rewards. Our local economies could benefit enormously from ownership of revenues arising from renewable energy generation. Furthermore, it feels right that revenues generated from energy-related developments should help to alleviate local energy-related problems such as fuel poverty, and help support energy-related local economic development. ALIenergy is ideally placed to explore and take forward shared ownership opportunities in collaboration with its local communities. During 2024 we held a series of public meetings in Oban, co- hosted by ALIenergy and the Resource Collective, which returned unanimous support for the exploration of future opportunities regarding community shared ownership of various potential new developments around the Oban area. We are grateful to Local Energy Scotland for providing ongoing support and invaluable information on the topic of shared ownership as an emerging framework that offers communities the opportunity to become shareholders in renewable projects, and for providing CARES funding for legal advice on potential legal structures. Re_Store – New Venture with Local Charity Partners A new charity shop (Re Store) in Oban is a partnership led by Hope Kitchen with ALIenergy, Oban Youth Café, Lorn & Oban Healthy Options and Atlantis Leisure, opened as a social enterprise to serve the community whilst also creating revenue. The shop sells second hand and repurposed goods as well as redistributing surplus food. It also has a workshop space for a variety of classes and events including arts, crafts, sewing and mending, including making blankets and draught excluders to give out to those in need, and hosting drop-in advice sessions. The shop opened in spring 2024, and has now been successfully trading for over a year. In November 2024, the venture won an Innovation Award at the ScottishPower Foundation Awards. This year, it has been shortlisted for the Social Enterprise Awards 2025 which will take place in November. Page 30
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SSE Renewables Update Through the Tangy Fund, we continue to support ALI Energy in delivering their Affordable Warmth Advice Service in the area with an award of £10,718 this year. Tangy also continues to provide microgrant payments, with £3,215.40 available this year to each of the five community council areas (East Kintyre; West Kintyre; The Laggan; Southend; and Campbeltown), upon submission of spend reports for the previous year. This gives a total contribution this year of £26,795. Craig Mullen Senior Community Investment Manager Page 31 Agenda Item 8
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