Scotland’s promise of shared community renewables wealth at risk

Proposal for communities to share in renewable energy wealth not realistic without urgent government intervention, says Climate Hub report

Edinburgh – Jun 9 2026 – A new report by Regen funded by Scotland’s Community Climate Action Hub programme shows Scotland is uniquely positioned to realise UK government plans for communities to share in the profits of renewable energy wealth. However timelines, stalled regulation and local preparedness could see many missing out.

On Tuesday (9th June 2026) the East Lothian Climate Hub published an evidence case for using shared ownership of renewables to generate funds for community climate and nature action.

The report and financial modelling by clean energy consultancy Regen showed significant, long-term revenue for communities with a shared stake in local renewables. However the biggest barriers were the complex requirements put on communities to coordinate and the lack of urgency to define the government’s position on shared ownership.

The report by Regen investigated returns from community investments in onshore and offshore wind and solar.

A 2% stake in an offshore wind project could be worth £45million to communities over its lifetime.[1]

However much of this is based on current heavily subsidised pricing.

In February, the UK Government and GB Energy announced it was consulting on a detailed proposal requiring shared ownership offers to be mandatory, expected some time this summer.

Currently, negotiating shared ownership is part of the best practice advised by the government, but there is no obligation for developers to engage with communities. In many areas, the community does not have the resources or expertise to engage with offers made.

With the government CfD period and infrastructure pipeline approaching deadlines to meet the government’s 2030 targets, it may not be viable for communities to take ownership at a later stage.

Speaking at the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland Annual Gathering in Edinburgh on Monday 8 June, East Lothian Hub manager Bobby Pembleton said engagement by communities and updated regulation is urgently needed.

“The promise of shared ownership has not yet translated into the scale Scotland needs,” he said. “One major reason is that it is extremely difficult, and often intimidating, for community groups to access the right specialist legal, financial and technical expertise at the right time. Too often, the burden falls on passionate local volunteers and community champions who already give enormous amounts to their places, and who now must conduct complex negotiations with major commercial developers.

“If shared ownership is to be a real thing, not just an aspiration, communities need sincere, actionable offers, made early, backed by the right technical assistance, and supported by a mandatory UK-wide framework.”

Early this year the Climate Action Hub programme began an investigation into shared ownership of renewable energy, to support community-led climate action.

The Climate Action Hubs will continue to advocate for communities to share local energy wealth, working on local ambitions, with a national scale and reach.

Hub manager Bobby Pembleton said:

“Scotland’s Community Climate Action Hub programme is internationally unique and potentially transformative: 24 grassroots-driven, local context-dependent, government-funded Hubs working with communities across the country. That gives Scotland a unique opportunity to ensure communities are not just consulted but have a real stake in the renewable energy transition, and the wealth it creates.

“The renewables transition is well underway. We cannot allow the opportunity to pass to secure a fair share for Scotland’s communities.”

Regen chief executive Merlin Hyman said:

“This evidence case shows that Scotland’s Climate Hubs could play an important role in helping more communities become active partners in clean energy development. Communities taking a share in ownership of clean energy projects is a long-term strategy, rather than a quick way to generate income. But with the right governance, specialist advice and access to affordable finance, it is a promising way to enable much greater local value from renewable energy projects.”

[1] Regen Community Shared Ownership Modelling Report 2% equity stake in project-financed joint venture project under base case over a 30-year lifetime. Results given for three years (2030: CfD period + commercial debt+ public sector debt; 2043: merchant tail + no commercial debt + public sector debt; 2048: merchant tail + no debt).