One of the UK’s green energy policy leaders has visited a wind farm in Lancashire to learn more about the owner OnPath Energy’s community-focused approach to clean power.
Bill Esterson MP, who chairs the Parliamentary Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, met with senior members of the OnPath management team at the three-turbine Heysham South wind farm.
The MP was told how OnPath is aiming to invest around £1bn in clean energy projects across the UK over the next five years.
As part of the company’s OnPath Together development approach, the Heysham South wind farm has delivered around £157,000 in community benefit funds over the last 10 years, providing financial support for projects being undertaken by groups and good causes in their surrounding communities.
The wind farm generated more than 18,000MWh of green energy last year, which is enough to meet the annual energy needs of over 6,200 homes.
OnPath Energy chief executive Richard Dunkley said: “The Labour government has made a strong start in terms of meeting its ambition to make the UK a clean energy superpower, but there is still a long way to go to reach this goal and much more to do in terms of creating the policy environment in which it can do so.
“With the way having been opened to new onshore wind development in England, the right standards need to be set for how much-needed additional grid infrastructure is put in place, how new project proposals are designed, assessed and constructed, and how the developers behind them work with local communities in an open, honest and respectful way.
“We believe the work we are doing in Scotland to bring communities with us on the energy transition by creating industry-leading commitments on direct community benefits and community shared ownership provides a strong template for how this challenge can be approached south of the border.
“For example, we’ve committed through our OnPath Together development approach to work with local contractors and subcontractors, resulting with our projects delivering 60% of the project investment that we’re making in our new wind farms within 60km of the site, a commitment that will have a very significant impact on small business growth and skills development opportunities in the surrounding area.”
In his role of committee chair, Esterson is leading inquiries into two key pillars of the government’s Clean Power 2030 plan: enabling locally-led renewable energy projects and developing the new workplace skills essential for a thriving green economy.
These inquiries aim to unlock the potential of community energy and the clean energy transition – providing energy security and lowering bills, while driving growth and creating skilled jobs in the energy sector.
Esterson said: “As chair of the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee, it was an invaluable opportunity to see first-hand how projects like this are helping to deliver on our net-zero targets while ensuring a more resilient energy supply.
“The committee is taking evidence about the importance of community projects and my visit to the Heysham South wind farm gave me valuable insights into how commercial developers could be part of the expansion of community energy on a significant scale across the country and as part of GB Energy’s plans.
“It was inspiring to witness the progress which is being made and the dedication driving the UK’s energy revolution.”
Picture: OnPath Energy’s sustainability and community director Robin Winstanley, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale Lizzi Collinge, Bill Esterson MP and OnPath Energy chief executive Richard Dunkley