In Ireland, 382 groups have benefited from the investment that comes from revenues earned by wind farms across the country. The funding helps rural communities develop their facilities with energy efficiency and upgrade the sustainability of buildings.
Stephen Wheeler, Managing Director at SSE Renewables, has hailed the investment as SSE playing its part "in helping Ireland's transition to renewable power".
Highlighting SSE’s role in helping Irish community groups, Mr Wheeler said: "We recognise that an integral part of a just transition is sharing value with the local communities in which we operate. We're committed to investing to ensure Irish communities have what they need now and for the future. That's why in the last year SSE Renewables has donated over €1 million to local projects to invest in issues as diverse as inclusive sport to biodiversity centres. In doing so, we're aligned to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring the investments we make into local communities help deliver affordable and clean energy, take climate action to reduce emissions, and support the creation of sustainable cities and communities.
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"As we build more renewable assets across Ireland, we're ensuring the country benefits from local, clean, resilient energy with a commitment to local supply chains to boost our economy. As part of this commitment, we'll collaborate with communities to help them achieve their ambitions and support thriving, robust and prosperous communities across Ireland."
The contribution has been published in SSE Renewables’ 2022/23 Community Investment Review for Ireland.
Alongside providing funding to local community groups, the Community Investment Review details the education funding support SSE Renewables has provided to young people in Ireland. In the Galway Wind Park Scholarship Fund, 16 students who live near Ireland’' largest wind farm recieved €50,000 of funding through scholarships to attend third level college courses of their choice.
As well as this, the company's community funds have developed. In County Donegal, the company worked with FuturEnergy Ireland to consult the community and local representatives ahead of the opening of Lenalea Wind Farm next year.
The company aims to continue to support Ireland's green recovery and successfully support in communities across the country.
