New Community Fund for Slieve Divena II Wind Farm now open for applications

SSE Airtricity, Northern Ireland’s leading renewable energy provider, has launched its new annual Community Fund for Slieve Divena II Wind Farm, aiming to support local community groups and projects.

Through its Community Fund programme, SSE Airtricity makes voluntary annual contributions to the communities near its wind farms in Northern Ireland. The programme passed a major milestone last year, with more than £1.5 million now awarded to local causes.

To launch the new Community Fund, SSE Airtricity held an information evening at Kelly’s Inn in Ballygawley on Wednesday 8 August, providing local community members with information on the Community Fund, and how to apply.

As with all of SSE Airtricity’s Community Funds, applications will be accepted within a 12-mile radius of the wind farm, with special preference given to projects within 3 miles of the site. SSE Airtricity puts a particular emphasis on projects focused on energy efficiency, sustainability and safety, due to the lasting benefits they have for the community.

In addition to the Community Fund, SSE Airtricity will launch a Regional Fund for Slieve Divena II Wind Farm later this year, focused on supporting students in the local area. Combined, the Community and Regional Funds will provide around £94,000 to the local community in the first year alone.

So far in Northern Ireland, SSE Airtricity has provided funding to nearly 600 community groups, including schools, sports clubs and community associations, as well as supporting 100 local students with their third-level education fees.

Anne Reynolds, Community Development Officer at SSE Airtricity, said:

“We’re delighted to open our new Community Fund for Slieve Divena II Wind Farm, which we hope will create significant and lasting benefits for the local community. It was great to see so much enthusiasm at the information evening in Ballygawley, and we’re now encouraging as many groups as possible to apply before the closing date on Friday 7 September. We’re really proud of the impact our Community Fund programme has had so far in Northern Ireland, and with the fund for Slieve Divena II now open, we’re excited to make an even bigger difference in the years ahead.”

The application period for the Slieve Divena II Wind Farm Community Fund is now open, and closes on Friday 7 September. To apply, visit ireland.sse.com/communityfund

SSE’s 18.8MW Slieve Divena II Wind Farm, near Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, became operational in July 2017, and generates enough clean, green energy to power around 16,500 homes.