Grant Funding - UK Wind Farm Community Funds

A list and links to 100+ solar & wind farm community funds - grant funding for Scotland, England and Wales & a map of 2000 UK solar and wind farms

Grant Funding - UK Wind Farm Community Funds

You can source grant funding from the many solar and wind farm community funds. Your project has to be within a few miles of a wind farm but that means competition for funds is limited, plus the amounts can be substantial for a small charity. The links below connect you to 100+ wind farm community funds, plus use the link to the map at the bottom for all 2000 UK wind farms. For access to our Funding Finder grants directory and Help Finder corporate funding directory, register now; everything is free.

Solar and Wind Farm Community Grant Funding

There seems to be an inconsistent approach to offering local community grants. Some wind farms offer substantial sums, such as EDF, whose 30 wind farms have donated grants of £60 million. Other developers appear to offer either no community grants or only token benefits such as a one-off free solar PV installation on a local school or community hall.

There are also community grants for hydro and solar farms but these seem to me to be smaller. I think that may be because these may be smaller scale, but I don't know for sure.

Onshore Wind Farm Community Grant Funding

EDF Renewables	They have about 30 community funds. Mainly Scotland and Northern England, but also other English counties and a couple in Wales.
ScottishPower Renewables	A subsidiary of Scottish Power, head office in Glasgow, they have circa 30 UK community benefit funds, which have contributed over £60 million. Most are Scottish, but also Cornwall, Cambridgeshire and Northumberland, Powys and Co Antrim and Co Tyrone. Scottish, include Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire, Highland, the Borders, Argyll and Bute, Midlothian, Lothian, Perth & Kinross and Renfrewshire. Funds can be used to deliver a wide range of initiatives. they promote volunteering and also have Iberdrola International Volunteering Day and volunteering holidays, involving 100s of employees. They have match funding and payroll giving.
Nadara	Their Call for Projects 2024 “Impact, Care, Connection” is aimed at supporting sustainable projects in the communities around their UK wind farms that are aligned to their core values. You have to be located within the geographical area hosting one of their operational renewable energy plants (or a plant that is going to be operational soon). They have 30+ UK sites in England, Scotland and Wales, albeit none in SE England. Head office is in London. Use the interactive map. Up to £10,000. Deadline 1 Nov.
Vattenfall	The Swedish energy company operates UK 13 battery storage, and onshore and offshore wind projects. Ten are wind farms and they invest £3 m pa back into local communities. There are a number in Scotland including in Aberdeenshire, Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Oban and Skye and 2 in Wales. In England they have Swinford (Leicestershire), Northumberland and off the coast of Thanet (Kent) and Barrow-in-Furness (Cumbria). Head office is in Penzance. Their map of locations has 16. Support includes for skills and young people and also women entrepreneurs.

Individual Wind Farm Community Fund Grants

Burton Pidsea Wind Farm Community Fund	EnergieKontor UK Ltd. Local community organisations for charitable, educational, community, environmental and energy efficiency initiatives taking place in the East Riding of Yorkshire wards of Mid Holderness, North Holderness, South East Holderness and South West Holderness, with a preference for initiatives within the proximity of the development. Up to £10k. The main fund opened in 22024 from 1 Apr to 31 Jul. Apply for small grants (up to £1000) at any time. Open to most types of non profit.

Drone Hill Wind Farm Community Fund	Schroders Greencoat.Community projects benefiting those living in the Scottish Borders in Reston & Auchencrow, Grantshouse, Coldingham, and Cockburnspath & Cove Community Councils (East Berwickshire). An annual amount of £40,000, inflation-adjusted, will be paid into the fund each year. Grant size: £250 - £10,000Grants between £500 and £10,000. Will fund equipment and core costs. Deadlines 3 Mar and 8 Sep 24.

Sixpenny Wood Wind Farm	Small local charities and voluntary and community groups in Blacktoft, Eastrington, Gilberdyke, Hook, Kilpin and Laxton, in East Yorkshire to enhance the quality of life, contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities, and promote community spirit and encourage community activity. Apply anytime for micro grants up to £500 at any time. Grants up to £3,000 have an annual funding round.

Offshore Wind Farm Community Grant Funding

Ørsted Community Fund Grants. Ørsted operates several offshore wind farms and has established 5 Community Benefit Funds. There are 2 grant rounds annually but you can apply at any time. You can find more details on each and to apply via the Grant Scape link in the FAQs.

The Burbo Bank Extension Community Fund supports projects in Merseyside and North Wales.
The East Coast Community Fund benefits coastal areas of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and North Norfolk.
The Walney Extension Community Fund supports projects near the Cumbrian coast.
Hornsey 3 Community Fund for North Norfolk and East Anglia.
Hornsey 3 Fisheries Fund for the offshore wind and fishing industries along the Norfolk coastline.

Equinor Offshore Wind Farm Grant Funding

Equinor is a Norwegian energy company that focuses on oil, gas, and renewable energy production, including offshore wind farms. I've found 2 UK offshore winds farms.

Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm - £100,000 pa to provide grants to support education initiatives for the young people in the Great Yarmouth, Breckland and North Norfolk districts of Norfolk.
Dogger Bank - in Jun 24 they announced funding of £25 million to support coastal communities across Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside and the East Riding of Yorkshire to enhance science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) education for young people during its 35-year operational lifespan. They also provide grants of up to £1,000 to community projects. They provide £75,000 of funding pa for these activities, covering everything from sports kit to mental health groups.

How to Find a Wind Farm Near You - Interactive Map

UK wind farms are often required to contribute to community benefit funds, which are designed to support local communities affected by their presence. There are now about 2000 wind farms across the whole of the UK, so the ones I've listed above are only about 5% of the total.

The Department for BE & IS releases a quarterly update of the UK’s latest renewable energy projects, including solar farms, wind farms and biomass plants. These are also available as an interactive map. You can select to show only wind farms. Find one near you and get in contact with them.

Solar Farm Community Fund Grants

There are also community funds for solar but there do not appear to be as many and the grants seem to be smaller. Here are some examples, including one for the village of Aston Clinton where I live.

Gib Lane Solar Farm	Haymaker Energy has 12 solar farms in the UK. They committed £10,000 annually for a 25 year period into a Community Fund. The first donation was made in 2015, and as the Fund is linked to inflation, it is expected to grow throughout its life. In 2024 the Fund value increased to £14,896. It is for the benefit of four Parishes, Bierton, Hulcott, Aston Clinton and Buckland in Buckinghamshire.

Staveley Solar Farm	Run by Bluestone Energy. Staveley Solar Farm is in Rutland, in the East Midlands. The value of the fund will be based on £1,000 per MW per year output of the solar farm. Staveley has a power output of 40MW resulting in an annual fund of £40,000 for the operational lifetime of the farm; 30 years. It's open for proposals from the community to promote social and environmental prosperity and will prioritise the following areas: Climate and Environmental improvements, Youth Inclusion and Education, Road Safety and Cultural Dialogue and Heritage.

Crossroads Solar Farm	Situated off Blackwater Grove in Alderholt, Fordingbridge, Hampshire The solar farm fund is £7000 pa for 30 years. It makes grants for projects in the parish of Alderholt to improve facilities for education, mental and physical wellbeing, sport, recreation or other leisure activities for the inhabitants of Alderholt and the surrounding area. It is administered by the Alderholt Community Charitable Trust, a registered charity (Charity Number 1167313).

East Langford Solar Farm Fund	Community projects in the areas of Stratton, Kilkhampton, Launcells and Morwenstow, in Cornwall. Projects with an educational element or awareness of reducing their carbon footprint may be given priority. Awards range from £250 to £5,000.