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SSE Renewables is generating benefits for people and their communities


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SSE Renewables managing director Jim Smith.
SSE Renewables managing director Jim Smith.

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The purpose of SSE Renewables has not changed – providing people with the clean energy they need – but a fast-changing world makes that purpose even more crucial.

This is the view of SSE Renewables managing director Jim Smith (pictured) at a time when the group – which already has a green energy portfolio of around 4GW – is redoubling its efforts to meet ambitious carbon neutral emissions targets as a key part of the UK and Scottish response to the climate emergency.

The Highlands, where SSE Renewables has already invested £22 million into more than 1000 projects through its community benefit funds, will be vital to the achievement of these aims. In turn, SSE Renewables takes the view that it is a part of the Highland community.

It is an active member of that community, ensuring that those who live and work here are involved, right from the initial consultancy stage when their views and concerns help influence design, ensuring local firms and workers enjoy the opportunities construction and maintenance bring, and on to long-lasting benefits for communities as wind farms generate power and income.

“Building more renewable energy projects in response to the climate emergency is about more than just the environment,” Mr Smith said.

“It’s about creating social and economic value for communities in a sustainable way. Through our direct actions and that of our supply chain, we create local jobs and make a positive contribution to Scottish and UK GDP. We are part of Highland communities for the long-term, and we have an ongoing commitment to share the value we’ve created.”

A recent report into the impact of SSE Renewables’ Sutherland developments alone – Strathy North, Achany, Gordonbush and Gordonbush Extension – demonstrates the difference this investment can make.

Achany Wind Farm near Lairg currently has 19 turbines. A 20-turbine extension is currently at the consultation stage.
Achany Wind Farm near Lairg currently has 19 turbines. A 20-turbine extension is currently at the consultation stage.

Over the full 25 year operational life span, the £644 million investment will generate £485 million for the UK economy with £131 million of that remaining in the Highland region and supporting an estimated 570 years’ worth of full-time employment in the area.

“Millions of pounds and hundreds of jobs have been supported and retained in the local, regional and national economies. Crucially, this will continue throughout the projects’ operational lives,” Mr Smith said.

“Over the many years we’ve been present in Sutherland and indeed the Highlands, we have been delighted to see how communities have chosen to invest funds from our renewable energy projects into the initiatives that matter most to them.

“We look forward to continuing to work with local communities to take advantage of the incredible renewable resources here in the fight against climate change and to create even greater social and economic value.”

Building local opportunities for Highland businesses

Dingwall-based RJ McLeod has a long established relationship with SSE Renewables.
Dingwall-based RJ McLeod has a long established relationship with SSE Renewables.

Ever since work began on the first of its onshore wind farms in Sutherland in 2009, Achany, SSE Renewables has made a commitment to ensuring a high level of involvement from Highland businesses and workers.

The main civil contractor for this, and each of the Sutherland wind farm projects which have followed is RJ McLeod of Dingwall.

Considering itself a Highland contractor, RJ McLeod has a strong relationship with its supply chain and contractors within Sutherland, Caithness and the wider Highland Region, ensuring the maximum possible benefit to the Highland economy.

Other opportunities for local companies to work with RJ McLeod and SSE Renewables are available through the Open4Business portal.

Created by SSE in 2012 and now operated by Inverness Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, this allows companies new to the supply chain to bid for smaller contracts.

When it was introduced to the onshore wind market, through SSE Renewables work in Sutherland, RJ McLeod brought with it many local contractors who have gone on to benefit from wider opportunities in the onshore wind market.

Local companies such as Gow Groundworks in Halkirk and CS Drilling in Thurso have used their experience as subcontractors to develop specialist skills that they have used to secure contracts elsewhere.

RJ McLeod itself has also been able to grow its own expertise in the area and secure renewables contracts further afield and at times renewable energy has accounted for the majority of its turnover in comparison with around 20 per cent in 2009.

Golspie firm's double gain from funds link

Waverley Engineering at Gordonbush Wind Farm.
Waverley Engineering at Gordonbush Wind Farm.

Golspie's Waverley Engineering sees benefits on different fronts from SSE Renewables’ investment in Sutherland.

The construction contractor, plant supplier and commercial repair company is a well- established partner of SSE Renewables, performing a variety of roles from landscaping and road repair to snow clearance and drainage on the company’s far north wind farms.

However, it has also gained from SSE Renewables’ commitment to community investment, working on projects which are only made possible because of funding from the energy giant, such as the £29,000 Golspie Community Council project to upgrade the Big Burn walk and make it more accessible.

Director David Gordon said: “You get a big boost from the wind farms, but we are able to keep people on until the next boost comes in because there is that stream of work from community investment. Community councils have become pretty good at finding funding, so if they get support from wind farm money, they can find match funding from elsewhere, and can soon have a fairly substantial pot.”

Gordonbush Wind Farm.
Gordonbush Wind Farm.

Waverley Engineering has also benefited directly from SSE Renewables’ community support by accessing funding which enabled them to take on an apprentice.

“I doubt we would have had him had it not been for that funding,” David acknowledged.

“It was only possible through SSE again and it really helped because we are pretty small and having an apprentice can be a huge cost for us. That’s another benefit of the long term relationship.”

Waverley Engineering has also gained from establishing a long-term relationship with RJ McLeod through their work on SSE Renewables’ sites.

This has led to working together on other wind farm projects outside Sutherland, helping the Golspie firm’s growth.

Community cash to invest in the future for the far north

SSE funding allowed Rachel Murray to start an apprenticeship.
SSE funding allowed Rachel Murray to start an apprenticeship.

As part of its commitment to being a responsible developer, SSE Renewables provides community benefit funds for each of its wind farms.

Since 2008 it has contributed £471 million directly to communities through 51 funds across the UK and Ireland.

In Sutherland, there are five funds which have already contributed £6.9 million to 591 projects since 2010 and an estimated £23.1 million is set to be invested over the wind farms’ lifetime.

However, with studies finding that each £1 of community funding generates £6.16 in wider value, the real value to the community could be in excess of £140 million.

SSE Renewables funding supports a wide range of initiatives, from heritage and tourism to care projects such as Tykes, which supports 105 young carers and their families.

Skills development is another key focus of investment. In addition to funding STEM training at 20 local schools and hosting 80 evening classes, individuals have been helped into new careers thanks to a £525,000 apprenticeship programme fund.

This not only helps young people access opportunities with local employers, but also provides coaching and access to qualifications.

This allowed 15 young people to begin a new career in 2019/20 alone.

Among them was Rachel Murray, who embarked on an apprenticeship with a dressage horse breeder in Lairg and went on to help the business develop a new social media strategy enabling horses to be sold across Europe.

Support helped centre step up in the coronavirus crisis

SSE community funding enabled Bonar Bridge's Bradbury Centre to provide virus support.
SSE community funding enabled Bonar Bridge's Bradbury Centre to provide virus support.

When the coronavirus pandemic disrupted lives, businesses and vital services last year, SSE Renewables’ flexible

grant funding approach allowed it to make

£1 million immediately available across the country to communities and organisations best placed to help those most in need.

In Sutherland, where SSE Renewables was able to immediately release £52,000 to support the community response to the crisis, the Bradbury Centre in Bonar Bridge was one of the local organisations which could offer an enhanced service thanks to SSE’s support.

Centre manager Lorraine Askew acknowledged these services had only been possible thanks to the speedy release of SSE support funding.

However, this is just one of a number of ways SSE has been able to support the day care centre.

“The Bradbury Centre has been very fortunate in receiving grants from SSE which has enabled us to provide our clients and the community with much needed help and support over the last few years,” Lorraine said.

“Funding from SSE for our extension enabled us to get other funders on board. The extension meant that we could provide our much needed service to more people also allowing us to deliver a wider range of activities with more space to move around.

“Over the period of the Covid-19 pandemic, SSE was the first port of call when we desperately needed funds to provide our outreach service to clients who could no longer attend the centre. SSE funds have enabled us to provide free meals, a delivery service of groceries prescriptions etc. to the shielders in three communities as well as our clients. The fund also paid for our sanitising system to make sure our minibus and centre is safe.

“It’s re-assuring that this funding source is available for us.”


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