Statkraft, engaging with communities is core to our energy-secure future
Supported by Statkraft, charity Liquid Therapy in South Donegal gives young people access to the therapeutic benefits of the surf and ocean.
As the country makes its transition towards a more resilient, energy-secure electricity system, local renewable development is growing steadily alongside it. Being one of Ireland’s largest renewable energy developers we work to support and invest in local communities, offering direct support as we transition to a greener more sustainable future.
Our goal when we set out on any project is to develop trust and understanding with stakeholders and to support their communities, empowering them to achieve their own goals and create unique and tangible benefits of the green energy transition in ways that significantly impact them.
As part of our development process we employ a Community Engagement Strategy, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, but also with our own core values: We Act Responsibly, We Grow Together and We Make an Impact.
Since entering the Irish market in 2018, Statkraft has paid more than €9 million in contributions and rates to 12 local authorities and, together with its partners, have distributed almost €3.5 million in Community Benefit Funds. We are dedicated to our role in supporting Ireland’s green energy transition and see it as critical to realising energy security and more stable pricing.
Our strategy of collaboration within the local areas we work, includes working closely with communities and creating open and ongoing opportunities for dialogue from the very beginning of project development. By actively listening, engaging and responding, we build strong relationships that help us deliver work that contributes to a long-term positive impact in people's homes and communities and to Ireland’s clean energy future.
Every Statkraft project in Ireland is designed with the vision that transitioning to renewable energy should make our society, communities, environment and economy stronger and more resilient – not only in the future, but in the here and now.
Sustainable resilience must be deliverable and create lasting value and improvements for people in their day-to-day where they live and work. We strive to engage with our communities as early as possible to ensure that they have ample opportunity to be involved in the design and development of our sites. We include local people in our projects early in the design phase as we understand how insightful locals are about their areas and how helpful this understanding can be to our developments.
Our community liaison team go door-to-door engaging directly with those most knowledgeable about the area and about how best we can support them and their community throughout the development process.
This approach supports meaningful engagement, building connection, trust and enabling the exchange of shared value and knowledge that would not be accessible without the participation of those living and working in the area. Statkraft works with communities to ensure that their perspectives, interests and concerns are highlighted and considered throughout the development process and jointly assess opportunities for community development, including the RESS Community Benefit Fund which can be used for the wider economic, environmental, social and cultural well-being of the local community.
Through the Community Benefit Fund, Statkraft and its partners have been able to support numerous local initiatives, awarding over €1.4 million in 2025 to community groups across the country. This funding helps local groups to achieve their own sustainable development goals and allows them to make essential quality of life improvements that matter most in rural communities, including educational supports, biodiversity initiatives, outdoor amenities and creating or improving community spaces for local people.
In Kerry alone, Coars National School in the South-West received funding for a dedicated school bus service enabling children in rural areas to get to school. With no existing public transport, the morning school run was a challenge for many families in the area but through the Community Benefit Fund, what was a daily challenge has become an important part of school life.
The new school bus service is more than just a mode of transport, it creates work for the local man now driving the bus, it gives the parents a sustainable and reliable way to get their children to school, and provides a safe place for the students to start and end their day, make friends and build belonging so vital in more remote areas.
About two hours north of Coars, the village of Moyvane and Knockanure GAA were also awarded funding. Moyvane Development Association is a fantastic local group who work tirelessly for the betterment of their locality. With funding, they were able to invest in new lighting essential to ensure safe usage of amenities for residents, as well as a biodiversity initiative in the area. In Knockanure, funding was awarded to the local GAA club to ensure the continued upkeep and maintenance of their facilities.
A focal point for their community, Knockanure GAA club was able to carry out much needed upgrades to its facilities; enabling greater playing capacity, greater accessibility and ensuring that it remains a facility for everyone, benefiting not just its players but the whole community.
In South Donegal, award-winning charity Liquid Therapy provides children and adolescents with access to the experiential, educational, and therapeutic benefits of the surf and ocean, particularly for those who may otherwise face barriers to participation. Through the Community Benefit Fund, they are supported in achieving their aims of inclusivity in Blue Spaces for all and allows them to continue their work, facilitating inclusive programs, providing necessary equipment and building an inclusive and welcoming community at their Surf Center in Rossnowlagh Beach.
These four projects are only some examples of the impact this funding can have and how Statkraft and its partners have been able to support communities around the country. Many other projects have facilitated a multitude of improvements and initiatives including: the creation of community gardens, community hall renovations, tree planting and bird boxes, public amenities such as outdoor seating and lighting, and the funding of local charities. Through conversation and collaboration, we are able to highlight opportunities that the Community Benefit Fund can create and guide local groups through the process, making sure that they benefit from it where it matters most.
Early and continual engagement is not just important to the communities themselves but is also a critical part of Ireland’s green energy transition. As one of Ireland’s largest renewable energy developers we play an important role within that transition process however, progress doesn’t happen in isolation. Essential to the success of a more resilient and sustainable future is the input and efforts of local communities and individuals.
By engaging with communities impacted by our developments we gain learnings that can be applied onward to future developments that will have lasting and positive impact on even more communities and people. Community engagement creates the potential for shared benefit but also an understanding of the shared responsibility that is needed to combat the issues created by overreliance on imported, volatile fossil fuels and ultimately, climate change.
We all need to work together collectively to ensure we can have a country powered by home-grown, clean energy.
Local initiatives create intrinsic value to their surroundings and drive change by providing a space for conversations surrounding sustainability and how our actions can shape the environment in a positive way. By connecting to our renewable energy projects these conversations get louder and smaller grassroots organisations can start to grow with funding and support, allowing them to reach more people and have a longer lasting impact. Integrating sustainability into the foundations of our projects and fostering meaningful partnerships between us and the community is a central pillar of our approach.
These partnerships and the value they create are key aspects of the clean energy transition. Through the mutual effort of developers, government, businesses, communities, and individuals, we can make a lasting impact on our environment and shape a better future for everyone. While it is the responsibility of everyone to do their part in this transition, renewable energy companies, like Statkraft, play a critical role in its delivery.
In our current state of geopolitical uncertainty and global concerns on climate and energy, the positive impact that renewables can have on energy security is more important to consider than ever. Energy security and price stability through the development of home-grown energy and reduced dependence on gas imports are a vital part of Ireland’s move towards a more resilient and sustainable future.
While the development of renewables is vital for generating energy independence in Ireland, equally as critical in their development is the impact that they have on people where they live and work. Local community projects funded through the Community Benefit Fund, each have a unique and lasting impact and are part of strengthening Ireland’s energy security, increasing biodiversity and fostering nation-wide environmental resilience.
The need for renewables has never been more apparent as it provides our own energy in a way that is safe and sustainable, providing a pathway of growth and security. This is not something we can do alone however, while the continued investment and development of renewable energy projects is vital, a clean, green and secure future is dependent on the support and efforts of everyone we meet along the way.
