Another Caithness Wind Farm Up And Running - Community Benefit Very soon

20th May 2019

Electricity flowing from Bad á Cheò Wind Farm powers up to 22,000 homes per year.

· All 13 turbines now exporting electricity

· £133,250 annual community fund administrator announced.

Consented in May 2014 and awarded a CfD in February 2015, innogy's 26.65MW Bad á Cheò Wind Farm at Achkeepster, Caithness is now fully exporting to the grid with the capacity to provide sufficient renewable electricity to power up to 22,000* average homes each year.

Alex Meredith, innogy's Head of Onshore Wind Development UK, is delighted that Bad á Cheò Wind Farm has reached this significant milestone. He said: "Not only is Bad á Cheò Wind Farm a significant addition to innogy Scotland's renewables portfolio, as the cheapest form of green technology to consumers, new onshore wind has a crucial role to play in Scotland's clean energy future. innogy Scotland looks forward to working with the Scottish Government and communities across Scotland to help reach net zero carbon by 2045 as we work together to address the climate emergency at the lowest cost.

In addition, fulfilling our commitment to investing in the communities around our onshore wind farms, innogy is delighted to announce that a community fund of £133,250 will be available each year for the operational lifetime of the project. The fund has been calculated in line with the Scottish Government's Good Practice Guidelines at the rate of £5,000 per MW of installed capacity and payments will be index linked.

Katy Woodington, innogy’s Community Investment Manager, explains further: "We have spent a long time listening to what local people want, and with the agreement of Watten, Halkirk & District, and Lybster, Latheron and Clyth Community Councils we have appointed Foundation Scotland to administer the fund via their local officer Eilidh Coll.

"When surveyed, seventy-three percent of respondents to innogy’s questionnaire about the fund supported a model where local people make decisions on the allocation of funds via a volunteer grants panel supported by an independent grant-making organisation."

In relation to the setting up of the fund, Thurso-based Eilidh Coll said: "Foundation Scotland is working with local community representatives to help shape both the structure and priorities for this flexible and long term fund. A number of themes have emerged, particularly education, training and increased opportunities for young people, as well as the protection of community assets and activities.

"We look forward to opening the fund for applications shortly and ensuring that these priorities and ambitions for the fund are realised in a fair, open and transparent manner. If anyone has any questions about how Foundation Scotland will help deliver the Bad á Cheò Wind Farm community fund, please contact me."

· For further information, please visit: www.foundationscotland.org.uk/programmes/bad-a-cheo/

· To contact Eilidh Coll please email: eilidh@foundationscotland.org.uk

· Further information about Bad á Cheò Wind Farm can be found at www.innogy.com/badacheo

PHOTO

Shows location of the windfarm in the middle of the county - 13 small black dots.