Owner of Tipperary wind farm seeks applications for share of its community benefit fund

Community projects close to the Garracummer Wind Farm near Hollyford are being encouraged to avail of €10,000 funding that remains available to surrounding parishes.

The call out for applications for the funding has been issued by Danish renewable energy company Ørsted which says the €10,000 is what remains of its 2023 community benefit funds scheme.

The multi-national operates more than 21 wind farms in the island of Ireland and its Irish headquarters is based in Cork. It has set up a community benefit fund for each of its wind farm projects.

Ørsted invested more than €230,000 in communities in Ireland and Northern Ireland in 2023, which included €9,600 in Tipperary across four sites, two in Lisheen (near Templemore) and Mienvee, which is part of the Garracummer site, which is located near Kilcommon Cross, Moanvaun, Hollyford.

Ørsted’s community benefit funds are linked to the size of its operational assets.

During 2024, a total budget of €335,000 is available for applications across the island of Ireland, including from communities near its Tipperary sites.

Amy Ahern, Operations and Landowner Community Liaison at Ørsted, said the company was dedicated to being an active partner in the communities where it operates and believes in giving back to the areas in which it develops and produces renewable energy.

“We will consider all requests for donations or funding that we receive under our 21 community benefit funds across Ireland and Northern Ireland.”

“Our funds are open for applications all year round and we encourage community organisations located close to our wind farms to consider how financial support from Ørsted may help your ideas come to life by getting in touch with us.”

In January, Ørsted announced it’s to proceed with building the nine turbine Farranrory Wind Farm near The Commons and Ballingarry.

For further information about how organisations can apply for grants through Ørsted’s community benefit funds, please visit: Ørsted in the Community | Ørsted (orsted.ie).