Westmill Sustainable Energy Trust (WeSET)
Westmill Sustainable Energy Trust (WeSET) is a registered charity (No. 1158820) established by members of the Westmill Wind Farm and Solar Co-operatives.
WeSET promotes sustainable energy through education, arts, and renewable energy projects. Its core focus is on supporting local energy conservation and renewable energy initiatives, primarily within a 25-mile radius of the Westmill Wind and Solar farms.
The charity organises site visits, supports arts projects and delivers learning opportunities through education to encourage sustainable energy adoption. The charity's activities are delivered by a team of knowledgeable trustees, officers, and volunteers.
While most of the Trust’s activities are intended to support local communities and individuals, visitors to the Wind and Solar farms have come from all over the UK and Europe, as well as Australia, USA and Azerbaijan.
The funding for WeSET comes from grants from the Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative, Westmill Solar Co-operative, and donations and bursaries from organisations and individuals. These are gratefully received, enabling WeSET to fund visits, open days, arts activities, our rich educational resources and a wide variety of practical support for sustainable energy projects.
WeSET in numbers...
Site Tours
The site at Westmill, in its stunning location, provides a unique opportunity to see both wind and solar power generation in action.
Westmill Wind Farm, with its five turbines producing 6.5MW of power - along with the 4.8MW Westmill Solar Farm - produces clean, green energy equivalent to the electrical energy consumed annually by about 4,500 households.
We enjoy welcoming all to our site to discover Wind and Solar energy for themselves.
Our team of friendly, knowledgeable volunteer guides offer public tours aimed at individuals, families and small groups and are able to offer bespoke tours for larger groups.
Educational Resources
Discover our comprehensive range of educational materials to help you learn more about sustainable energy. These resources are suitable for a wide range of ages and are designed in a compelling, easy-to-understand way.
Community Engagement
We have supported a wide range of local projects - such as the installation of photovoltaic panels on local buildings and helping to fund insulation of local community halls.
Volunteering
Over 17,000 people have visited us here at Westmill. Our visitors are welcomed by our warm and friendly team of volunteer tour guides from a wide variety of backgrounds - all with a passion for sustainable energy and a low-carbon future.
We are always looking for new, enthusiastic individuals to help us inform, educate and enlighten people about clean, green community energy and the truly positive impact that the creation of sustainable, renewable energy has on the planet.
Please contact us if you are interested in working as a WeSET volunteer.
Resources for Schools
These resources are suitable for wide range of ages and are designed in a compelling, easy-to-understand way.
Visit Westmill
Take a tour of the Westmill Wind and Solar Farms led by our friendly, knowledgeable guides!
I support Westmill Solar because it directly benefits communities and individual investors in clean energy projects uncompromised by the conflicting interests of large corporations.
Jane Buckley
Westmill Solar Member
When I first saw the share offer for Westmill Solar I thought what a great idea, the interest is better than the banks. But that was not the main reason for investing, it was the idea I would be helping my son and others with a better cleaner future.
Alan Barlow
Westmill Solar Member
I like the fact that the wind farm is producing home grown renewable energy and is 100% community owned.
Westmill Wind Farm Member
I am a DIY investor who started reading up on investing at university before taking the plunge by purchasing index funds in 2010. I am still very enthusiastic about renewable energy and thanks to a healthy interest payment every year, I haven't missed the money I've invested.
Maureen McGuinness
Westmill Solar Member
I became a shareholder in Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative because I wanted to take some responsibility for the energy that I was consuming. I also wanted to be part of a community that championed the move towards renewable energy.
David Abley
Westmill Solar and Wind Member
I invested because I believe in local, renewable energy projects.
I have very little savings and no experience in stocks and shares but wanted to support your initiative. I thought that it might not lose money and possibly give a return equal to bank savings account.
Beth Edwards
Westmill Solar Member
I joined and invested in Westmill Windfarm Co-operative because I believe in the absolute necessity of switching to renewable generation, and preferably in community ownership - why is it taking so long?
Westmill Wind Farm Member
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