Westmill Wind

Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative was established to provide an opportunity for regular citizens to be involved in the ownership and development of the first community-owned onshore wind farm to be built in the south of England. The wind farm is a pioneer in renewable community energy and a vision of how the future might be.

After learning about community renewable energy schemes while on a visit to Denmark in the 1990s, Adam Twine, landowner and farmer of the Westmill site, was inspired to create a community-owned wind farm.

Adam persevered through a long campaign to gain planning permission. The first board of the wind farm co-operative and Energy4All were instrumental in helping Adam to build the wind farm and complete the initial share offer, which was published in 2005.

The co-operative was able to raise £7.3 million through members of the public purchasing shares and a loan from the Co-operative Bank. Work began in July 2007 with the first two turbines beginning to generate electricity in February 2008.

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Westmill Wind in numbers...

members of Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative

Siemens turbines

homes powered by Westmill Wind in 2024

donated to the local community

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People around a wind turbines holding hands

Member Benefits

Renewable Energy Ownership

Democratic ownership of clean energy and participation with like-minded members in the running of the co-op.

Local Community Support

Opportunity to decide how to allocate part of annual revenue to support local initiatives.

Financial Return

A stable, reliable source of income and the option of securing a reduction in electricity bills.

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Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative is a bona fide co-operative society registered with the Financial Conduct Authority under the Co-operation and Community Benefits Society Act 2014. Its registered number is 29816R and its registered office address is Unit 26, Trinity Enterprise Centre, Furness Business Park, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2PN. For further information please read our rules and other key documents.

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?