It is the most accessible island of the Hebrides, with 14 km² of extension and 200 inhabitants. In March 2002 the local community took over the ownership of the island, setting up the company "Gigha Heritage Trust Island ”.
2/3 of the electrical demand of the island is covered by wind farm di Giga Green Power, the company owned by the residents, consisting of 3 V27 wind turbines (30 m high) for a total of 2,1 GWh / year, which supply clean electricity to the residential sector, industry and other small businesses. About 35 homes are equipped with solar thermal for domestic hot water, and 10 photovoltaic panels. In addition, 1 GW of wind energy is produced in the southern part of the island.
The wind farm is the first in Scotland to be of community property of inhabitants and is a profitable and occupational asset. The island is moving towards full energy independence, and there are preconditions for becoming a net exporter.
The community, in 2002, also implemented a program of reorganization and expansion of the island's housing heritage, based on theenergy efficiency: insulating panels have been inserted in the roofs which ensure the conservation of the heat produced with wood stoves. Energy saving has been beyond 73%.
THEdrinking water supply it is fully autonomous, being the island equipped with a treatment plant.