Frequently Asked Questions
This is a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Westmill Energy. If you are unable to find the answers you are looking for here, please email us at info@westmillenergy.coop with your query.
Please click the buttons below to access specific FAQs about Westmill Solar Co-operative or Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative.
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Co-operative Model Questions
Co-operatives stand for equality. They are run on the basic principles of democracy, fairness and ethical behaviour. Within a co-op one member equals one vote, no matter how many shares are owned. Additionally, profits are shared by the members; when the co-op does well, the members do well. The International Cooperative Alliance is the global steward of co-operatives and sets the Values and Principles of the cooperative movement.
Owning shares in Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative automatically makes you a member of the co-operative. We strive for an active membership, but there is no requirement to vote or become involved if you do not want to. This unique feature of the co-operative means that members are able to have hands-on ownership of their investment and help to shape the future of the co-operative. In other ways the co-operative is similar to any other business and seeks to run efficiently and profitably.
(Note: we are completely unrelated to The Co-operative Group)
Westmill Wind Farm and Westmill Solar Co-operatives operate under the idea of rippling out benefits to local, regional, national and possibly international levels.
Members receive an annual return providing an indirect benefit to the local economy, rather than the returns going to a big private company.
The co-ops generate clean energy that helps fight climate change and contribute to ensuring energy security for the country.
The local community benefits as a percentage of profits go to local community organisations involved in environmental education, sustainability and related projects in the local area.
To learn more, please visit our Fund Community Projects page.
The Westmill Co-operatives are community-owned, co-operatively run projects and do not currently have the ability for members to buy electricity directly from the solar park. However, we have implemented a Trading Dividend in affiliation with Your Co-op Energy. If members of the co-operatives are also customers of Your Co-op Energy, they will receive a £50 discount on their energy bills for the year. To learn more about this scheme, please visit our Member Benefits page.
We hope to provide a more direct way for members to purchase our electricity in the future.
The Westmill Co-operatives have been sharing their experience with policy-makers and influencers to help make it easier for future community renewables. A big success for the community energy sector came in 2014 with the launch of Community Energy England.
Energy4All is the UK’s leading social enterprise in the delivery of community owned renewable energy schemes. Since their foundation in 2002, Energy4All has successfully delivered over 30 community energy co-operatives, with more currently under development.
As members of the Energy4All family, Westmill Solar and Westmill Wind Farm Co-operatives help to support the creation of new community renewable energy projects.
If you are considering setting up something similar to Westmill, there are a number of organisations whom you may wish to speak to regarding co-operatives and community renewables:
Visitor Questions
In Watchfield near Swindon. The site is located on the Oxfordshire/Wiltshire border.
Postcode: SN6 8TH
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Yes, you can! Westmill Sustainable Energy Trust (WeSET) organises site visits. Please visit our Visit Us page for further information.
We encourage you to visit the site to learn about renewable energy and the history of the site. These tours offer a unique, intimate and insightful perspective on how a wind and solar farm work, with an expert on hand to guide you along the way.
Westmill Organisations Questions
Westmill Energy is the umbrella term for the three Westmill organisations: Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative, Westmill Solar Co-operative and Westmill Sustainable Energy Trust (WeSET).
Although the organisations remain three separate entities, they work very closely together and collectively they are known as Westmill Energy.
Westmill Solar Co-operative is a community owned solar farm in Oxfordshire. At the time of its establishment, we believe that Westmill Solar was the UK's biggest, and the world's largest, co-operatively run, community owned, solar farm.
Learn more about the organisation on the Westmill Solar page.
Visit the Westmill Solar FAQs page for answers to the most common questions about Westmill Solar.
Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative is a community owned wind farm located in Oxfordshire. When it was established, Westmill Wind was Southern England's first 100% community owned wind farm.
Learn more about the organisation on the Westmill Wind page.
Visit the Westmill Wind FAQs page for answers to common questions about the co-operative.
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.
WeSET lead on arranging all visits and tours at Westmill. Check out the Visit Us page for more information about arranging a tour of Westmill.
Learn more about the organisation on the WeSET page.