Welcome
Welcome to the ESB Wind and Solar Community Benefit Funds website (Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland) administered by SECAD Partnership CLG.
The 2025 Wind Farm Community Benefit Funds are now closed. Applicants will receive a response to their applications no later than the end of May 2025.
We are excited to begin working with new Solar Community Benefit Funds in the future. The first Solar Community Benefit Fund, Bullstown Solar is expected to open in 2026, for further information please visit this link.
To read further information on the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), please click here to visit our news post.
To read further on how ESB support their Communities, please visit this link.
To visit our help section and view the Fund Guidelines and other helpful information please click here.
To view case studies, please click the following links:
Rockmount Care Centre, Co. Kerry
Newcastle West Regional Athletics Hub, Co. Limerick
Ballyfad Community Centre, Co. Wexford
To view the 2024 ESB Celebrating Community Achievements Webinar, please click here.
To view the 2023 ESB Celebrating Community Achievements Webinar, please click here
To the 2034 ESB Information Webinar, please click here
News
Solar Funds
We are excited to begin working with new Solar Community Benefit Funds in the future. The first Solar Community Benefit Fund, Bullstown Solar is expected
Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS)
The Irish government introduced the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) to support renewable electricity projects and help achieve Ireland’s target of 80% renewable electricity by
The Wind Farm Community Funds
The ESB Renewable Strategy recognises that achieving a transition to a low carbon economy can only occur through responsible development with includes genuine community engagement.
ESB with its joint venture partners established wind farm community benefit funds with the aim to encourage stronger interaction and engagement with communities living in the vicinity of wind farms and to help the communities neighbouring ESB wind farms to become more sustainable through the support of positive local initiatives and activities.
The funds are available to support projects that are aligned with local needs and opportunities such as the purchase of equipment, building or refurbishment work. Support for larger projects over a multi-annual basis may also be considered. Approximately €1 million is awarded annually via ESB’s nominated grant making organisations.
What Is it?
The Wind and Solar Community Benefit Funds are available to support once-off expenditure such as the purchase of equipment, building or refurbishment work. Support for larger projects over a multi annual basis may also be considered.
Who is it for?
The fund is available to community and voluntary organisations for projects which are based with in a given distance of that particular wind farm.
