Supporting the Community

We are Ireland’s largest generator of wind power and have a well-established track record of sharing value from our wind farms with local communities by annually providing voluntary community funding to projects and good causes. 

We recognise the importance of achieving a just transition to a clean and secure energy future. We understand our success is interlinked with the well-being and prosperity of the communities in which our renewable assets operate.

Since we awarded our first community fund in Ireland in 2000, SSE has invested almost €20m on a voluntary basis from our wind farm funds to community projects across the island of Ireland.

If consented and approved for delivery, SSE would provide an annual Community Benefit Fund for Arklow Bank Wind Park 2 from the point at which it enters commercial operation. The fund would be based on Arklow Bank 2's generation output and would be expected to deliver multimillion-euro community benefits to the region - supporting communities all along the coastline from Wicklow Town to Arklow and on to Courtown in North Wexford.

More than half a million euro in sponsorship

Our support for the community doesn’t wait until the wind farm commences operation, however.

Since 2020, SSE Renewables has provided awarded around €600,000 to almost 200 voluntary groups, sports clubs, charities and community organisations in south Wicklow and North Wexford through our Arklow Bank Wind Park 2 sponsorship fund.

Organisations supported include among others Seal Rescue Ireland’s virtual education programme, Wicklow Rowing Club’s boat restoration project, Meals on Wheels Arklow and Wicklow, Arklow Maritime Museum, Wicklow Surf Lifesaving and the RNLI in Arklow, Wicklow and Courtown.

Download an application form here to apply to the Sponsorship Fund.