EDF Renewables UK has launched its 2024 Stranoch Wind Farm Sponsorship Fund and is welcoming applications from local community groups in the Dumfries and Galloway area.
Stranoch wind farm, located between New Luce and Barrhill, is a 20-turbine site with 102MW capacity.
The electricity from the wind farm will be bought by two businesses – BAE Systems and Tesco – to help decarbonise their portfolios, with a third to be announced in due course.
The £20,000 sponsorship fund will open for applications on Monday 7 October and applications are welcomed from communities across the area.
Over the last two years EDF Renewables UK has worked closely with stakeholders and residents in the vicinity of its Stranoch wind farm to prepare the roads and infrastructure ahead of construction, which began in May 2024.
In addition to the economic benefits that the wind farm brings to the area through the supply chain, the sponsorship fund will be a welcome boost to local organisations. This fund is being run until the point of operation when the dedicated wind farm’s Community Benefit Fund will begin.
This will be worth over £510,000 per annum for local communities – totalling at least £15.3m over the course of the project’s lifetime.
Jon O’Sullivan (pictured), Director of Onshore Wind, Hydrogen and Commercial and Industrial Solar for EDF Renewables UK, said: “As a business we very much pride ourselves on working closely with local people at every stage of the process and enabling local communities to maximise the benefit from our renewable energy developments.
“We are delighted to launch this sponsorship fund as we progress the construction of Stranoch wind farm.
“We would welcome applications from a range of community groups and projects which are making a difference locally.
“In other areas, our sponsorship fund has helped a number of local projects near our sites, from heated blankets for community groups; equipment for parent and toddlers’ clubs; bolstering the running of a local community-focussed organisation to garden projects for schools and monies for a traditional music festival.”