Irish wind farms paid nearly €3.5m to rural communities living in close proximity to wind developments in 2019.

The figures were outlined in the second annual community benefit report published earlier this week by the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA).

Beneficiaries of the community investment funds include energy efficiency projects, third-level scholarships, sports clubs, active retired groups and local festivals.

The report identified the top five counties for wind energy community benefit funding. Galway leads the way with €831,860, followed by Cork on €424,740, Roscommon on €334,600, Tipperary on €258,700 and Limerick on €243,250.

Scholarships

Galway Wind Park, managed by SSE Renewables in conjunction with partners Greencoat Renewables, runs a third-level scholarship fund for students from the locality.

The Galway Wind Park Scholarship Fund was launched in 2019 and offers funding for full- and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses to students living within 20km of the wind farm.

Students can apply for funding of 50% of their tuition fees for up to a maximum of three years.

Over €130,000 was awarded to 33 students in 2019, with successful applicants studying a variety of courses including teaching, engineering and nursing.

Benefit funding to rise

The level of community benefit funding is expected to rise in the coming years, as new wind farms connect to the system and with the introduction of the Government’s Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS).

Projects seeking support under the RESS will be required to contribute €2 for every megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity produced, which will typically result in over €15,000 per turbine going directly towards local community projects every year.

IWEA CEO Dr David Connolly said: “Under the RESS, there will be a significant increase in the amount of funding going into Ireland’s rural communities from the next generation of wind and solar projects.”