Local Benefits

To find out more about our work with communities visit our Community webpages.

RWE npower renewables offers a range of community benefit packages at our operating onshore and offshore wind farms, these usually benefit those communities living closest to the site.

There are a number of existing models, which have been negotiated locally to meet the specific needs of individual areas. The model varies depending on the size, type and geographical make up of local communities. These packages have been used to fund a wide variety of activities including community building refurbishments, environmental education programmes, energy efficiency schemes and supporting local groups and organisations.

RWE npower renewables will be offering a similar package in association with our Kiln Pit Hill Wind Farm which will become available when the wind farm becomes fully operational.

Where an annual fund is offered, RWE npower renewables prides itself on, wherever possible, ensuring decisions about how funding is allocated are made by local people for the benefit of their own community.

Usually we establish a steering group of local people, to make decisions about the allocation of funding. At Kiln Pit Hill we intend to work with an independent third party organisation, the Northumberland Community Foundation, to convene and manage such a steering group. Community Foundations are independent charities located across the UK dedicated to strengthening local communities, creating opportunities and tackling issues of disadvantage and exclusion. When the full details of how the Kiln Pit Hill Wind Farm Community Package will be administered and the geographical area which will benefit have been finalised its availability will be well advertised in the local press along with the application process.

In the meantime we would welcome any further comments about the set up of the package or ideas for initiatives it could support.

Please forward any suggestions to our Community Investment Officer, Katy Woodington.

Construction of the wind farm presents opportunities for local economic benefit and employment. We are currently working with Regional Agencies to put in place a local employment initiative to maximise the contribution to local businesses that can be gained from the project. Whilst we must follow current legislation and go through a competitive tender process for each part of the works, it is normal to expect that local suppliers and contractors with appropriate skills will be well placed to win some of these contracts. RWE npower renewables actively encourages such local businesses to come forward and identify areas of expertise that would be of value to us.