Yellow River Community Fund set for 2025 launch

Applications for a community fund linked to the Yellow River Wind Farm in Rhode are to be invited next year.

Developer SSE Renewables has confirmed that the project, involving 29 turbines and a capacity of more than 100MW, will be operational in early 2025.

An independent panel to make decisions on applications for a community fund to be established as part of the project has been identified and will be in place before the first round of the fund is launched in 2025.

SSE outlined the plan as it marked 20 years of providing community funding support in Ireland with the publication of a report which shows it has directly invested over €12 million so far from its onshore wind farms into rural Irish communities.

SSE Renewables said it has completed an extensive community consultation process, to identify the needs and opportunities within the local community in Rhode.

Across 2023 eight community events were held, including focused elderly and youth forums to seek the views of people of all ages. The in-person events were supplemented by online surveys to ensure the views of a wide range of residents were secured.

In a statement, SSE Renewables said: "The findings of the needs assessment highlighted that the local area has a strong community spirit and benefits from a rich culture and heritage. During the consultation, local residents identified their priorities for the new fund, and these will include developing inclusive community facilities and projects, increasing educational opportunities and improving health and wellbeing for residents."

The company’s latest Community Investment Review for the financial year 2023-24, reveals it has awarded €12.3 million of wind-powered funding investment to communities across Ireland since 2003, and €900,000 in the last year alone.