Independent UK law firm Burges Salmon has helped its client, Awel Co-op, an award-winning community wind farm, to secure an investment from Triodos Bank to refinance its operational onshore wind farm in the Amman Valley. It is the first time that the ethical investor has invested in an energy co-op in Wales. It is Awel’s stated aim that all profits from the wind farm will be ploughed into further low carbon projects in the local community.
Dan McCallum, one of the co-op’s directors, comments: “We are delighted that Triodos, one of the key backers of community energy in the UK, has chosen to invest in the Awel Co-op. We look forward to working with Triodos going forward and, at the same time, acknowledge the critical role that the Welsh Government played in providing us with bridging finance as well as the vital development funding we received from Ynni Lleol, Big Society Capital, Esmee Fairbairn Charitable Trust, Robert Owen Community Banking and EU Regional Programmes. We could not have achieved any of this without the help and support of our legal advisers, Burges Salmon, whose dedicated team has supported us every step of the way.”
Euan Bremner of Burges Salmon, comments: “It has been a pleasure to help the Awel Co-op achieve its dream of a fully financed, operational wind farm. We have provided full project support advising on real estate, planning, grid, turbine supply, regulatory matters, corporate structuring and project finance over several years and we are delighted for all of the Trustees and supporters of the Awel Co-op. Dan McCallum deserves special mention for his dedication and perseverance to bring this project to fruition.”
The Burges Salmon team included Patrick Robinson, Cathryn Tracey, Euan Bremner, Zeynab Rajput, Victoria Allsopp and Elin Blundell.