ScottishPower Partners With Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown Community Association To Install Solar Panels For A Long-Term Community Fund

Scottish home-grown energy is taking on a new meaning in Wallacetown, where ScottishPower—a subsidiary of the Iberdrola Group—has partnered with the Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown Community Association to install community-owned solar panels that will generate clean energy and long-term financial support for local residents. The aim is simple but powerful: create a self-sustaining community fund that will reinvest every pound earned back into the area for decades to come.

Solar panels have now been installed on Wallacetown Early Years Centre, St John’s Primary and Newton Primary, forming a renewable energy system owned entirely by the community. The electricity generated will be sold, and the revenue—estimated at around £1 million over the next 25 years—will go directly toward improving local facilities, supporting youth services, assisting families and helping tackle long-standing fuel poverty challenges. Wallacetown, which ranks among Scotland’s most disadvantaged areas according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, now has a reliable and sustainable way to bring new resources into the neighbourhood.

This initiative was developed in partnership with South Ayrshire Council and has been supported financially through a £216,000 contribution from ScottishPower’s Transmission Net Zero Fund, alongside funding from the Scottish Government’s Community Energy Generation Growth Fund. Together, these contributions helped transform a community ambition into a practical project with long-term impact.

Alan Roseweir of the Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown Community Association said the project represents a turning point for the area, emphasizing that despite years of challenges, the community’s determination has remained strong. He reflected on how local ownership of clean energy can reshape what’s possible and hoped the project would encourage other communities across Scotland to pursue similar ideas.

The Scottish Government also welcomed the achievement. Gillian Martin highlighted the importance of community-led energy solutions in Scotland’s transition to net zero. She noted that empowering local groups to produce their own energy not only reduces emissions and costs but also builds resilience and strengthens communities from within.

From the perspective of the energy sector, Stuart McMillan, Ayrshire District General Manager at SP Energy Networks, said the project shows how communities can take an active role in Scotland’s clean energy transition. He pointed out that Wallacetown’s model demonstrates how renewable energy can create both environmental and social benefits, particularly in areas where investment is needed most.

The project was officially launched on 25 February at Riverside Church in Ayr, where residents, students and community leaders gathered alongside the Cabinet Secretary to celebrate the milestone. Councillor Chris Cullen from South Ayrshire Council noted that the estimated £1 million in revenue will provide a major boost, bringing many community-led projects to life over the coming decades.

By combining clean energy generation with community ownership, Wallacetown is setting an inspiring example for how Scotland’s transition to net zero can be fair, inclusive and shaped by local priorities. This community-driven model shows how renewable energy can fuel more than just the grid—it can fuel opportunity, resilience and long-term positive change.