MPs explore Scotland’s community-owned energy sector and community benefits schemes

In the first panel, the cross-party committee will question Community Energy Scotland and two community energy projects - Galson Estate Trust and Wallacetown Community Energy Project - on community energy in Scotland. These projects involve local people working together to buy, manage, generate or reduce energy consumption in a specific area. 

MPs will likely ask about the state of Scotland’s community energy sector, the barriers faced by community energy groups, and Great British Energy’s proposed role. Other questions may focus on issues around grid connection and the planning system in Scotland.  

In the second panel, the committee will hear from SSEN Transmission, the Highlands Council, Nadara and ALIEnergy on shared ownership models, where communities have a stake in energy developments alongside private developers, and community benefits schemes, which are packages of financial payments made by infrastructure developers to local communities who may be impacted.  

Members may explore the UK Government’s proposals for a mandatory community benefits scheme, appropriate levels of compensation and whether shared ownership or community benefits deliver better outcomes for local communities.

Witnesses at 9.30am:  

• Zoe Holliday, chief executive, Community Energy Scotland  
• Neil Mackinnon, development manager, Galson Estate Trust (virtual) 
• Alan Roseweir, community energy project lead, Wallacetown Energy Project  

Witnesses at approx. 10.30am:  

• Christianna Logan, director of customers and stakeholders, SSEN Transmission 
• Gail Anderton, community benefits manager, Highlands Council 
• Finley Becks-Phelps, UK country head of development, Nadara 
• Dr Lynda Mitchell, chief executive, ALIEnergy  

The session can be watched live here.