About | Arran Community Renewables

Founded in 2020 to enable the
Arran Community to own renewable energy.

We started as a steering group working together as volunteers with the charity Arran Eco Savvy.

The aim

To reduce Arran's carbon emissions by increasing the renewable energy generated on the island.

To create a green community fund that will enable more environmental projects that benefit Arran.

The purpose of installing solar panels on community buildings is to:

showcase low carbon technologies within the community
provide an opportunity for local residents to own a stake in the provision of renewable energy
provide discounted renewable electricity to the owners of the buildings.

Founding Directors

Chris Grainger

Chris is a chartered engineer with 12 years’ experience developing renewable energy projects in the UK, US and Middle East. Chris now works as an Investment Manager at Thrive Renewables (formerly Triodos Renewables) with a focus on development of new wind and solar project alongside the repowering of Thrive’s existing wind farm portfolio.

Donald McNicol

Donald has over 25 years’ experience in conventional and renewable generation in the feasibility, design and technical due diligence of power plants in the UK, US, Hong Kong, Mozambique, Italy, Ireland and the UK. He was the head of the engineering consultancy group for ScottishPower Technology and subsequently worked for Atkins plc for 10 years setting up their generation group in Glasgow and latterly became the Director of Due Diligence for SgurrEnergy which was founded in 2002 and became the largest wind energy consultancy in the UK and the second largest solar consultancy and had offices in 12 countries. Donald is a mechanical engineer and is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

A long, long time ago he attended Kilmory Primary School.

Gavin Steven

Gavin retired in 2014 after working for BT for 41 years. He was educated in Rutherglen and has a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Working in BT, he gained experience in Field Work, Sales / Technical Support, Corporate Governance and ending up in a senior role in IT Project Management in charge of global billing projects. He has always taken a keen interest in participation in sports and while living in US, gained a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. Interested in dinghy sailing and hillwalking from the age of 15, he stills finds time to take a wander in the Scottish hills along with a group of his friends from his long past school days. Gavin also volunteers at C.O.A.S.T. on Arran.

Jude King

Jude is the Arran Eco Savvy project manager, from 2017 leading projects in waste, energy efficiency, water efficiency, food, travel and climate literacy. Meeting ambitious carbon reduction targets & bringing wider benefits through initiatives such as Food Share, home renewables and eBike schemes. Jude studied in Edinburgh and worked in the renewables sphere in a graduate position. Having previously lived in (and loved) Hong Kong, Canada and the US, transitioning from city life to island life was an interesting journey for Jude but a great and fulfilling one!

Additionally Jude is on the board of VisitArran and feels strongly about the opportunity Arran has to build on existing environmental initiatives and community will- exciting times lie ahead!

Esther Brown

Esther is an Arran Eco Savvy founder Trustee since 2013. One of the original group who felt Arran needed a green voice. Esther has been involved with many community groups, in all office bearing roles. A part of the team who opened the shop in 2014 , helping to secure charitable status in 2015, she has been behind 4 yrs of successful Scottish Government funded 'Climate Challenge Fund' projects. Esther continues to work closely on Eco’s developments. After a career in the media industry, living in her home town of Glasgow & travelling extensively, she moved to Arran in 2005 with her young family. Esther has worked for the local Arran Art Gallery since 2006 & is also involved in the vibrant community of arts on Arran.