Local Community

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 Farr Wind Farm, a community fund has been set up to assist local community projects in Strathnairn and Strathdearn. The annual fund started at a base level of over £100,000, it is index linked each year in line with inflation and will be available throughout the operational life of the wind farm, in addition a one off lump sum of £1 million was provided. The Farr Wind Farm Community Fund is administered by Strathnairn Community Benefit Fund Ltd (registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator SC036807) and Strathdearn Community Charitable Trust (registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator SC037168). Both these organisations were set up by members of the local community to ensure decisions about how the fund is allocated are made by local representatives for the benefit of their own community.

In 2008 the Strathnairn Community Benefit Fund Ltd made 56 grants totalling £146,275.08, they offer a range of six different type of grants:

General - grants for a wide variety of projects and causes.   There are certain limitations which are contained in the Agreement with the RWE npower renewables and  the ‘objects’ approved by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.  

Venture Grants - Grants of up to £250 to a maximum of 20% of the applicants’ costs are available for those planning to participate in an educational or training project organised by a recognised charity or a school/university.

Further Education and Training Grants - Grants of £250 are available for students leaving school and going on to further education or training. 

Renewables Grants - Grants of up to 20% of the cost of installing small scale renewable technologies are available where an applicant has had an SCHRI grant approved. The maximum grant would be £1,000.  The scheme would not be retroactive and the total amount awarded is limited to £20,000 for the year.  

Home Heating Grants – Grants of up to £250 are available

Donations - Donations of £250 are available for a local group or organisation planning an event which is open to the public.
 
In 2008 the Strathdearn Charitable Trust made 13 grants totalling £48,138 including:

  • Strathdearn Village Hall- £36,044 to build a children’s play area
  • Srathdearn Community-£205 to repair a disability scooter available to the community

  • Croileagan TomAitinn (Tomatin Gaelic Playgroup)-£1,080 to employ a Gaelic speaking playleader


    Local Economic benefit
    Construction of the wind farm presented opportunities for local economic benefit and employment. 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 encouraged such local businesses to come forward and identify areas of expertise that would be of value. At Farr the capital investment of the project was in the region of £70 million, around a quarter of this cost went into the Scottish Economy. Further more, in addition to the wide range of companies and consultees employed during the planning application process, some 100 jobs were generated during the construction process. Just some of the companies involved during construction can be seen below:

  • Forestry Commission
    Scotland, Inverness, Scotland - Forest Access Track and A9 Junction
  • Ove Arup,
    UK - A9 Junction Design.
  • Scottish & Southern Energy,
    Inverness & Perth, Scotland - Grid Connection Works.
  • Bonus Wind Turbine UK Ltd,
    Newtown, Powys, Wales - EPC Turnkey Works.
  • Hydro Contracting,
    Inverness, Scotland - Sub-Contractor for Electrical Works.
  • Edward MacKay,
    Brora, Scotland - Subcontractor for Civil Works.
  • Boreas Ecology,
    Dornoch, Scotland - Ecological Services.
  • CFA Archaeology,
    Musselburgh, Scotland - Archaeological Services.
  • Ecology
    UK, Rotherham, England - Ornithological Services.
  • Dalgeish Associates,
    Dunblane, Scotland - Borrow Pit Consultancy Services.
  • Raeburn Drilling & Geotechnical,
    Hamilton, Scotland - Ground Investigation.
  • APEX Geoservices, Gorey,
    Ireland - Ground Investigation.
  • Halcrow,
    Inverness, Scotland - Ground Investigation, Site Supervision, Bridge Assessments.
  • PMSS,
    Southampton, England - Planning Supervisor.
  • Heritage Environmental,
    Auchterarder, Scotland - Ecological Services.
  • BMT Cordah,
    Edinburgh, Scotland - Ecological Services.
  • Applied Ground Engineering Consultants,
    Bagenalstown, Ireland - Peat Stability Consultancy Services.
Farr Wind Farm under construction