How much money Clyde wind farm gives the local community, 1,400,000 pounds across 27 projects for 2026

How much money a wind farm gives the local community

How much money a wind farm gives the local community is a question Clyde wind farm answers every year. Its community fund, money the wind farm pays out each year for projects in nearby towns, split 1,400,000 pounds among 27 projects for 2026, across South Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, the 3 areas around it. Clyde wind farm is jointly owned by SSE, Greencoat UK Wind Plc and GLIL Corporate Holdings Ltd, and it is the biggest wind farm built on land in the region. Colin Millar, general manager of Clyde Wind Farm Scotland Ltd, said the money follows what communities themselves ask for.

These initiatives reflect the ideas and priorities of the communities themselves, and we're proud to help bring them to life.

Colin Millar, general manager, Clyde Wind Farm Scotland Ltd. Source 1.

The 1,400,000 pounds for 2026 comes on top of over 20,000,000 pounds the wind farm has already put into these same 3 areas since 2012.

What the money buys

2 of the 27 grants show what the fund actually pays for. Scottish Borders College received 40,797 pounds to buy training equipment for renewable energy and energy efficiency courses. Kirkconnel and Kelloholm Development Trust received 50,000 pounds toward a community led housing project, 5 new homes for elderly residents in the town. The round also backed a new group of 6 local organisations in South Lanarkshire, including Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire.

This initial investment from Clyde Wind Farm allows us to test our approach and share the impact and insights with key stakeholders.

Wendy Johnstone, development lead, Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire. Source 1.

Clyde wind farm community fund is actually 3 funds

The 1,400,000 pound round is not the whole picture, and the 3 funds behind it should not be added together. The South Lanarkshire fund, run by South Lanarkshire Council rather than by the wind farm itself, receives about 1,200,000 pounds a year from SSE Renewables and expects to pay out over 25,000,000 pounds in local projects over its full lifetime. Grants under 10,000 pounds can get up to 100% of costs. Grants over 10,000 pounds can get up to 75% of costs, with matching funds required. 4 communities closest to the turbines, Crawford, Elvanfoot, Abington and Roberton, can get up to 12,500 pounds at 100% funding with no matching required, because they sit inside the 15 kilometre zone around the wind farm.

The Dumfries and Galloway fund is a separate, third pool, run by the independent charity Foundation Scotland rather than by the council or the company. It receives 155,000 pounds a year, an amount that rises automatically with the cost of living, paid jointly by SSE, Greencoat UK Wind Plc and GLIL Corporate Holdings Ltd. 12 communities share it, including Kirkconnel and Kelloholm, the town that got the 50,000 pound housing grant above. Groups there can apply by 3 February 2026 or 7 July 2026 for the current round.

How the round compares

1,400,000 pounds is about 5.6% of the 24,900,000 pounds SSE reports investing in communities across the United Kingdom and Ireland in the same year, a comparison that shows 1 wind farm fund sitting inside a much bigger company total. Rhian Kelly, chief sustainability officer at SSE, said the following.

Communities should share in the value created by the energy assets they host.

Rhian Kelly, chief sustainability officer, SSE. Source 5.