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.

Llyn Alaw Onshore Wind Farm
Community Benefit Fund

In association with the Llyn Alaw Wind Farm, a community fund has been set up to assist local community projects in Tref Alaw, Llanerch-y-Medd and Mechell. The annual fund started at a base level of £24,000, it is index linked each year in line with inflation and will be available throughout the operational life of the wind farm.

Local decisions

The Llyn Alaw Wind Farm Community Fund is administered by Tref Alaw, Llanerch-y-Medd and Mechell Community Councils, this means that decisions about how the fund is allocated are made by local representatives for the benefit of their own community.

Support for the area

In 2008 grants included:

  • Llanfechell Educational Society - £420 towards the cost of a course for members
  • Young Farmers - £75 towards the local Eisteddfod
  • Carreglefn Playing Field - £670.93 for tree planting
  • Llanfechell School - £1,500 towards purchase of a whiteboard for community use

In addition a small fund is administered by The Wales Community Foundation in Wales.

Local Economic Benefits

Llyn Alaw Wind Farm represents a major investment of about £17 million of which around £3 million was injected into the Welsh economy during the construction period. It continues to contribute to the local rural economy through rents rates and associated services. Five local farming families have benefited from the opportunity for rural diversification - providing an additional income to help insure the survival of Anglesey's rural community. The wind farm also employs two local, skilled workers for operations and maintenance work supported from a main office in Powys.