Crossdykes Wind Farm – Impact Case Study

In December 2021, Muirhall Energy won the Best Engagement Award at the Scottish Green Energy Awards for its Crossdykes Wind Farm project, in Dumfries and Galloway. This award recognised the approach that the developer had taken to community ownership, community benefit funding and encouraging the local supply chain to become involved in the project.

BiGGAR Economics studied the economic and social impacts associated with this project in the summer of 2021 and our report on the impact on Crossdykes has been submitted as evidence in support of the planning application for the Hopsrig and Loganhead Wind Farms which are also proposed for the area.

Crossdykes Wind Farm is one of the first subsidy-free onshore wind developments to be built across Scotland. As such, it is a clear example of the strides made by onshore wind technology over time. Crossdykes Wind Farm is proof of how onshore wind can help to meet climate change targets and do so at a relatively low cost.

Our assessment found that during its construction, Corssdykes Wind Farm supported:

• £1.7 million GVA and supported 21 years of employment within the local area;
• £3.8 million GVA and 50 years of employment across Dumfries and Galloway; and
• £17.5 million GVA and 238 years of employment within Scotland.

This activity was particularly important as the wind farm was constructed during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, the construction of the wind farm was particularly important for the hospitality industry which provided services to construction workers and allowed them to stay open during this difficult time.

Our assessment considered the policies that Muirhall Energy had implemented to maximise the local economic impact and the impacts that these policies had on the companies and communities in the area.

The full report can be accessed on the Energy Consents website, or from the link below:

• Case Study of Crossdykes Wind Farm – Full Report