ARDENTINNY Community Trust has become the latest organisation to join Cowal Community Energy (CCE), taking the partnership’s membership to nine of Cowal’s 11 community areas.
The move leaves only Hunters Quay and Cairndow yet to become members, with discussions already under way in the hope that Hunters Quay will also join the organisation.
Cowal Community Energy was established at the beginning of 2025 to help communities work together to secure shared ownership in renewable energy developments, with the aim of generating long-term income for community projects across the peninsula.
The organisation says its expanding membership reflects the collaborative approach now being promoted through GB Energy’s Local Power Plan.
CCE chairman Graeme Murray welcomed Ardentinny Community Trust to the organisation.
He said: “We are delighted to welcome Ardentinny Community Trust on board as members of CCE, and very pleased by the enthusiasm for the project which they have expressed.
“We look forward to working with Ardentinny, as with all areas of Cowal, in aiming to achieve the maximum financial benefit through shared ownership from renewable developments in Cowal, and thereby enabling them to advance their community plans over coming years.”
Ardentinny Community Trust said joining the organisation would allow smaller communities to work collectively towards securing funding that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.
Speaking on behalf of the trust, John Brint said: “Like other community areas, Ardentinny has needs and ambitions which are often difficult to fund.
“We are very pleased to join in supporting CCE in aiming to secure substantial shared ownership in renewable projects, and thereby long-term funding which will help to enable us to deliver our community plans and ambitions.
“As a small community we would not individually have the capacity to do what Cowal can do as a whole, acting together, through CCE.”
Cowal Community Energy hopes that by bringing communities together under a single organisation, they will be better placed to negotiate shared ownership opportunities in future renewable energy developments and generate lasting financial benefits for communities across Cowal.
