The group agreed a series of tasks for the next period including further engagement with wind farm developers; undertaking detailed work into legal and financial ownership models; engaging with Government bodies and financial institutions and developing an approach to community consultation.

Speaking after the meeting, Norman MacIver, chair of the Stornoway Trust and the new working group, said: “From the outset of discussions around renewable energy it has been a key goal of the Stornoway Trust that the community is able to share in the benefits of any major wind farm through an ownership stake in that wind farm. 20% ownership in the Stornoway Wind Farm was negotiated by the Trust as part of its lease agreement with Lewis Wind Power. This represents an industry-leading level of community ownership negotiated into a commercial wind energy project.

“Although the offer has been on the table for a long number of years, progress has been stalled due to uncertainties around the grid. With new grid infrastructure and the likelihood of the wind farms being built, the time is now right to explore the best approach for bringing the 20% formally into community ownership. Bringing the key partners together around the table and setting ourselves a workplan for the next period is therefore an important milestone and a critical step in securing significant new benefits for the community.”

Chair of Muaitheabhal Community Wind Farm Trust, Iain MacIver, said: “That a 20% community ownership offer has also been achieved in the Uisenis Wind Farm is hugely positive. Between the two projects that would place around 85MW, depending on final build-out, into community ownership which would represent one of the largest community owned wind farms anywhere in the world. It is also positive that the two Trusts, along with the Comhairle, have agreed to work together.

“Bringing them together under the umbrella of one joint organisation will make the development process more efficient and will allow a more effective final operating model to be put in place. There will be much work to be done over the next period to explore the differing ownership options and I look forward to that work and delivering on this opportunity for the community.”

Cllr Paul Steele, representing Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said: “The potential of the community owning up to 20% of the Stornoway and Uisenis wind farms offers huge opportunity for new community-based economic development over the next decades. This level of ownership has the potential to bring significant new revenues to the islands and we will be consulting with the community, in due course, regarding the investment approach to these revenues.

“I am, however, acutely aware that the potential cannot be realised until post-2030 and the delivery of grid and the construction of the wind farms. The Comhairle will continue to engage strategically with government and regulatory bodies to assist with improving the overall approach to community ownership and I very much look forward to seeing good progress on this important development over the next period.”

It was confirmed at the meeting that Calum Iain MacIver, former depute chief executive of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, would be appointed for a 12-month period to help project manage the development process.