Alison Tilley
CSR Manager at BnM
Through community benefit funds, education support and near-neighbour initiatives, one Irish energy company ensures that residents living near renewable energy projects receive meaningful social and economic benefits.
For more than 90 years, BnM has invested in and served communities across Ireland. Today, we continue that commitment by supporting local economies, safeguarding renewable energy supply and delivering a wide range of community-focused initiatives. Some of these include Community Benefit Funds, Mountlucas Wind Farm & Amenity, Lough Boora Discovery Park, our business accelerator Accelerate Green, Pathways to the Future, educational supports and other initiatives.
Empowering local communities through targeted benefit funds
Community benefit funds support local projects that enhance wellbeing, sustainability, education and environmental stewardship. These funds provide financial assistance to community groups, social enterprises, students and households located near our renewable energy assets. This funding forms part of BnM’s broader commitment to ensuring that the delivery of renewable energy infrastructure creates lasting value for the communities in which it operates.
Community investment is a central pillar of BnM’s 5GW renewable energy pipeline, which is directly supporting Ireland’s National Development Plan. Nationally, this year BnM has invested €1.4 million through its renewable energy community funds, supporting a range of initiatives including near neighbour schemes, education projects, and local enterprise.
We aim to ensure that communities living alongside our infrastructure receive meaningful social and economic benefits. Each fund is tailored to the specific location and administered with active local participation. They provide support to neighbours, students and local community groups (not-for-profit organisations or social enterprises) that operate or service communities near our renewable energy generating assets. The overall aim is to increase public and environmental wellbeing in these communities and to ensure that the communities adjacent to these assets receive tangible economic and social benefits.
CSR plays a vital role in improving quality of life in the communities surrounding our renewable energy projects. By directing financial support to local initiatives, we help foster long-term community development and ensure that residents benefit from the positive presence of our renewable infrastructure.
By directing financial support to local initiatives, we help foster long-term community development
Near Neighbour Scheme provides direct benefit to households near wind turbines
In recent years, BnM expanded its Community Benefit Package by introducing a Near Neighbour Scheme. Various research based on engaging with local communities indicated that providing direct benefits to residents living in close proximity to a wind farm should be considered. The Scheme is part of the company’s extensive community benefits package (which already includes an Annual Community Gain Scheme and Recreational Facilities).
The second aspect of the Near Neighbour Scheme is to provide funding for individual residential properties within a prescribed distance of a wind turbine to carry out energy efficiency measures on their property. Or they could use the funding towards education support or the purchase of an electric vehicle (EV)*. Our education support measure has assisted several residents covering a variety of courses, from a level 6 Certificate to a master’s degree.
The Educational Scholarship Scheme is a key pillar of our community engagement strategy. It provides financial support to local students pursuing further or higher education, with additional consideration given to STEM and sustainability-focused courses aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Scholarships are open to applicants studying Level 6 and above on the National Framework of Qualifications
*Subject to terms and conditions – please see relevant website for more information.
