RWE, one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, has taken a significant step forward by investing £ 25million over 20 years in the communities living near its UK projects. The investments, coming from community benefits funds set up by RWE alongside its operational onshore and offshore wind farms, will invest an additional £ 70million in support of local initiatives, throughout their lifespan .

Over the past two decades, RWE’s community benefit funds have had significant and positive impacts on the lives of local populations, enabling local improvements from new playgrounds and town hall rooftops to essential services that support those who need it. need it most. Across the UK, funds have already helped first responders save lives in Lincolnshire; the RNLI in North Wales and Norfolk for training and equipment to save lives at sea; helping homeless people find a safe place to stay; training the unemployed to acquire new skills and access well-paying jobs; and supported the most vulnerable in communities, funding initiatives that provide companionship and help with mental health.

Community Benefit Funds are made available in local areas surrounding RWE’s renewable energy projects and are provided and managed directly by independent local organizations. Funding processes are designed to be flexible and easily accessible, with funding decisions made by groups of local representatives who know their communities best.

RWE’s green developments provide additional benefits for the community and long-standing society, including a significant boost to local and regional supply chains, as well as support for the development of highly skilled and well-paid jobs, in particular in priority. coastal communities.

Examples of innovative and exciting local projects funded by RWE community funds are spread across the UK:

1 – WALES: Environmentally friendly transport links supported by Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm

Over £ 80,000 has been provided to Dolen Teifi, a community transport organization close to the Brechfa Forest West wind farm. The project was created by volunteers from local business groups to provide sustainable and environmentally friendly transport for the local population. The funds supported the purchase of a five-seater electric vehicle that is fully accessible to people with disabilities, as well as the training of community members and the provision of three new local charging points for electric vehicles. As a result of this project, the group has successfully attracted funding for the National Lottery which will help increase its fleet of electric vehicles accessible to local communities.

2 – ENGLAND: Health and wellness services supported by Rampion Offshore Wind Farm

A grant of £ 10,000 has helped support Pedal People – volunteer cyclists who ride with elderly care residents, helping them spend precious time in the outdoors. The initiative gives people, 75% of whom live with dementia, the opportunity to experience their city, community and local nature up close. The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm Fund helps with personnel costs, training and passenger care.

3 – SCOTLAND: Education and training fund supported by Bad á Cheò Onshore Wind Farm

The Bad á Cheò Onshore Wind Farm Education and Training Fund is open to residents living closest to the wind farm and aims to develop their skills and increase employment opportunities. To date, he has invested almost £ 50,000 in the area. The fund offers scholarships to help local people access training and education opportunities that better equip them with the skills needed to enter or keep employment. Thirty-five local people have received funds for courses as diverse as babysitting, sign language, deer stalking, weld inspection, bookkeeping and kilts making, or to help them cover costs while continuing their university education.

Katy Woodington, Community Investment Manager UK & Ireland, said: “This is an important milestone, which represents the significant difference that renewable energy can make to people’s daily lives and to the planet. The funds are set up with decisions made by local authorities. people, so it’s great to see them make the most of these flexible funds to support innovative projects, push boundaries and help achieve their ambitions. ”

RWE is the third largest renewable energy producer in the UK with the largest pipeline of renewable energy projects, including the construction of the 1.4 GW offshore wind farms in Sofia and 857 MW in Triton Knoll. RWE is also advancing four expansion projects in the UK, with a combined potential installed capacity of around 2.6 GW (RWE’s pro-rata share: 1.3 GW). the world’s most advanced offshore wind farms, in support of the government’s net zero ambitions.

To learn more about RWE’s community funds, as well as the local projects and causes they help support, visit our Community in Action Discovery page.

Images for media use come from the RWE Media Center. To learn more about how these community funds work and why they are in place, check out the website and the animation.