Local Community

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 ways of designing and operating these packages which are negotiated locally to meet the specific needs of individual areas. Packages vary, depending on the size, type and geographical make up of local communities.

Community benefit 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.
 
In association with the Novar Wind Farm, a community fund has been set up to assist local community projects in Alness, Ardross and Kiltearn communities. The annual fund started at a base level of £17,000, it is index linked each year in line with inflation and will be available throughout the operational life of the wind farm. The Novar Wind Farm Community Fund is administered by Alness, Ardross and Kiltearn Community Councils, this means that decisions about how the fund is allocated are made by local representatives for the benefit of their own community.

In 2008 grants included:

Local Economic Benefits
This £16 million development represents a significant investment by RWE npower renewables in clean and sustainable energy sources, and in the Scottish rural economy. Approximately £3.5 million was spent in Scotland during the construction process with the employment of around 45 local construction workers. A further annual income of £140,000 will continue to provide benefit to the local community through business rates, rent and employment of two operations and maintenance staff.