SIFFFT Turbines for South West England

Community-owned wind turbines can be transformative, both for the environment and for local communities. They generate clean electricity cutting carbon emissions, and the income they produce can be used to reduce fuel poverty, improve energy efficiency in local homes, and support communities directly. 

The project team was central to developing the Lawrence Weston turbine in Bristol; the UK’s largest community-owned onshore wind project. It now supplies enough renewable power for thousands of homes and will generate a six-figure income each year. That funding is being reinvested into local carbon reduction schemes and enhanced community services.

They now plan to replicate this model across South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. Working with landowners and community energy groups, they have developed a pipeline of eight potential turbine sites, with four de-risked and ready to move forward. Together, these four sites represent over 32.7MW of generation capacity, saving thousands of tonnes of CO₂ annually and delivering millions of pounds of real direct benefit to local people over the coming years. 

Funding will support moving these projects forward through development and planning permission phases. This replicable programme cuts carbon, tackles fuel poverty, and ensures the benefits of net zero are shared fairly across our communities.