The eight-turbine site will benefit thousands of people across the UK, who each own a part of the project. Owners will be able to power their homes with up to 100% green energy, contributing to efforts against climate change, while also saving thousands of pounds on their electricity bills over the site’s lifespan.

Kirk Hill Wind Farm is part of an innovative approach to renewables being pioneered by Ripple Energy, a UK company aiming to make green electricity ownership affordable and accessible to everyone, everywhere. According to the firm, a credit card slice of a wind turbine is all it takes to power an average home for a year.

Previously, the only way to own a source of clean power was to install solar panels on your roof, which prevents renters or those in flats from benefiting from low cost electricity generation.

Ripple Energy makes it possible to own a source, regardless of living circumstances, by bringing thousands of people together in a co-operative to share ownership and benefits from wind farms and solar parks.

Sarah Merrick spent 17 years in the renewable energy sector before founding Ripple in 2017. She said: “Kirk Hill Wind Farm is an example of how we can place real people at the heart of the UK’s energy transition.

“People want to act on climate change and want to be part of this industry but up until now, it’s been exclusive to utility companies and big businesses.

“So it’s incredible to see Scotland’s first consumer-owned wind farm come to life, knowing the difference it’ll make to its thousands of shareholders and Britain’s journey to net zero.”

She continued: “We want lots more projects like this across Britain – more wind farms and solar parks owned by consumers. That way, they get the maximum benefit from this amazing transition we’re in.

“There is nothing stopping consumers owning every single new wind farm in the UK. All of our taxes and the grid will still get paid.

“We need more developers to be making their wind farms and solar parks available for consumer ownership, and then there really is no cap on how big this movement can get.”

Kirk Hill Wind Farm has the potential to power around 20,000 households and businesses – or 20 million full revolutions of the Falkirk Wheel. In less than 10 minutes, it’s calculated to generate enough electricity to power a home for a year, and will save 29,667 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

Over its lifetime, nearly £3m of funds generated through the sale of green energy from the site will be awarded to local organisations, the Dailly Community Development Trust and the North Carrick Community Benefit Company. It will go towards projects to enhance the local area.

Shirley Paterson from Glenrothes is a co-owner of Kirk Hill.

She said: “For more than a decade I have been on my own personal net-zero journey, firstly having solar panels installed on my home in 2011 and then my family all making the switch to electric cars between 2014-2016.

“Ripple Energy was a huge opportunity to negate my carbon footprint further and I couldn’t be more proud as one of the 5,600 people who brought this wind farm to life. Together, we’ve achieved what one person alone could not.

“Of course, the savings on my electricity bills will be welcome. But it’s the tangible climate action that matters most, and with more projects like Kirk Hill and opportunities for people to take control of their energy, we can make a real difference for the future.”

Ripple Energy is currently offering members of the public and businesses the chance to be part of their next wind farm project – Whitelaw Brae in the Scottish Borders.

The 14-turbine site near Tweedsmuir will be the biggest consumer-owned renewable energy project the UK has ever seen and will take just three minutes to power an average home with clean electricity for an entire year.

The cost of buying a share of the site starts from just £25.