Ørsted has awarded eighteen organizations with grants from the fifth round of its Walney Extension Community Fund.
Each of the recipients will receive a share of the GBP 327,000 windfall from the fund established in 2016 to support community and environmental projects near the 659MW offshore wind farm in Cumbria and Lancashire, UK.
The organizations join a list of 57 other community groups that have benefitted from the fund so far.
Annually, approximately GBP 600,000 is made available for community projects for the expected 25-year lifetime of the wind farm.
“The North West is now home to the world’s largest offshore wind farm capable of supplying clean electricity to almost 600,000 homes, but our commitment to the region goes beyond creating green energy,” said Humphrey Laidlaw , Ørsted Policy Analyst.
“We are delighted to be able to support the incredible work community work that goes on throughout the area, which is showcased in this latest round of funding. So far, the Walney Extension Community has contributed more than £1.2 million to local groups and organisations to help make a positive and lasting difference.”
The sixth round of the fund is open for applications until 7 January 2019.
Walney Extension was officially inaugurated at the beginning of September when it became the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
The project, owned by Ørsted (50%) and Danish pension funds PKA (25%) and PFA (25%), comprises 40 MHI Vestas 8MW turbines and 47 Siemens Gamesa 7MW turbines.