SSE Renewables opens 2024 Tievenameenta Community Fund for new applications

SSE Renewables is inviting community groups in Tyrone to power local change in the area by applying for the 2024 Tievenameenta Community Benefit Fund. The fund will be open for online applications from Monday, 7 October to Friday, 1 November.

Since 2017, the Tievenameenta Community fund has provided more than £480,000 in support of the local community, and this year's fund will add a further £150,000 to that funding pot. Applications will be accepted from community groups and projects within a 12-mile radius of Tievenameenta Wind Farm, with preference given to projects within three miles.

Eligible community Groups include those focused on fostering community development, sustainability and improving health and safety standards are all eligible to apply. Projects with a focus on improving energy efficiency will receive additional points on their application, in recognition of their efforts in helping communities to join in the local transition to a net zero future.

One such Group to receive funding last year was the Ederney Community Development Trust. The Group was awarded £30,000 in multi-year funding in 2023 to aid the development of a community hub to tackle rural poverty and isolation. Commenting on the award, Martin Monaghan chairman of Ederney Community Development Trust stated: “SSE Renewables are an integral fabric of our community. They have been supporting the communities of our area for almost 20 years and without them, we would not be in the position we are in now. The community has come together now for our biggest project to date, to build the Community Hub”

Speaking as the fund opened to new applications, Pádraig Fitzgerald, SSE Renewables Community Investment Manager said:

“Since 2017 SSE Renewables have invested more than £480,000 into the community around the Tievenameenta Wind Farm. The SSE Renewables Community Fund is just part of our commitment to bringing the benefits of renewable energy to the local area. Each year the demand for the community fund, and the quality of the projects, has grown, showing just how innovative the local community is being to ensure they have the best facilities and services. We look forward to seeing this year’s applications, and we would encourage groups who may not have considered applying in the past to come forward.”

SSE Renewables is the leading developer and operator of renewable energy in Northern Ireland and is the power behind leading greener energy provider and sister company SSE Airtricity. Over the last two decades SSE Renewables has invested over £500m in the Northern Ireland economy through renewable energy developments. The company owns 117.1MW of operational onshore wind farms in locations across Northern Ireland, including the 34.5MW Tievenameenta Wind Farm. It has contributed close to £5 million so far in voluntary community funding from its wind farms to people-led projects in the immediate vicinity of its four wind farms in Northern Ireland.

The application period for the Tievenameenta Wind Farm Community Fund is open for online application now and closes on Friday, 1 November. To apply, visit sserenewables.com/TievFund.