Communities continue to benefit from renewables

Operational renewable energy projects across Scotland have now committed over £30 million worth of community benefits to communities in the last 12 months.

This significant voluntary contribution from the renewable energy industry to Scottish communities has been recorded on the Scottish Government’s Register of Community Benefits and Shared Ownership (the Register).

As committed in the Onshore Wind Sector Deal, Local Energy Scotland, working in collaboration with the Scottish Government, the renewable energy industry and communities, has recently refreshed the Register. The newly refreshed register has a host of features that make the data more accessible to users, including a filter to enable communities to search for community benefits available within their community council area.

The Register is also now being used to track not just commitments to communities, but what has been spent through annual reporting. Once reports have been completed, the Register will show projects that have offered shared ownership opportunities to communities, as well as projects at different stages including those in planning and under construction.

The renewables industry is now working hard to update these voluntary records to provide meaningful data to communities and other users. It will take some time for the reports to be completed, but the support and commitment to this transparent reporting from the renewables industry is welcomed.

Lindsay Dougan, Senior Community Investment Manager, SSE Renewables said:

“The renewables industry has supported communities across Scotland to achieve positive social impact through community benefit funds. The is an opportunity to showcase the difference communities make with the funds.”

Acting Minister for Climate Action Alasdair Allan said:

“The new national register of Community Benefits and Shared Ownership arrangements is an important milestone in securing a just energy transition for communities in Scotland. This has been a true partnership effort, and I commend the work of our industry and community partners to deliver this shared commitment in Scotland’s Onshore Wind Sector Deal.

“Alongside capturing new information on shared ownership arrangements across the country, the Register will bring even greater transparency to how community benefit funds are spent, the impact they will have and the lasting legacy they will deliver for communities.

“Communities are at the heart of our renewable energy ambitions, and we continue to encourage developers to offer community benefit and shared ownership opportunities as standard on all renewable energy projects.”

You can view the Register on the Local Engery Scotland Website.

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