RES celebrates a decade of discounted electricity for Aberdeenshire residents in Scotland

Residents living close to an Aberdeenshire wind farm have celebrated a decade of discounted electricity bills, thanks to Meikle Carewe Wind Farm, near Stonehaven. In that time the wind farm, which is owned by The Renewables Infrastructure Group (TRIG), has delivered nearly £250,000 of bills savings through RES’ innovative Local Electricity Discount Scheme (LEDS). 

The unique local electricity discount scheme was developed and designed by RES, the world’s largest independent renewable energy company, in response to research and feedback from local communities. LEDS offers properties closest to participating operational wind and solar farms an annual discount on their electricity bill, regardless of their energy supplier. It now operates at more than 30 projects across the UK. This year a total of 180 households, businesses and community buildings located within 3.5km of the Meikle Carewe turbines received a discount of £163 each.  

LEDS has been a popular benefit at Meikle Carewe, which was the first wind farm in Scotland to deliver such electricity discounts, where annual payments to eligible properties will continue until the wind farm is decommissioned.  

John Boyce, RES’ Development Director for Wind, explained: “RES has been at the forefront of wind energy for over 40 years, driven by our passion to innovate, and we are proud to have been the first company to offer and deliver LEDS. Listening to communities to design this scheme, LEDS continues to offer a unique form of benefit to residents and businesses around our wind farms.”   

Bruce Molland, local resident, added: “RES has been extremely good with their community communications and highly professional with their management of Meikle Carewe. The project has contributed to the security of power in the area – albeit obviously shared through the grid over a wider area, contributed to the local economy, and benefitted local residents like myself who receive discounted electricity through RES’ unique LEDS initiative.” 

Jackie Littler-Gordon, local resident, commented: “Every year we receive discount on our electricity, which does help especially nowadays with the rising costs all around us. It is nice that consideration is given to immediate residents and that we receive a benefit from the farm. I also understand that the local town benefits from the wind farm too.” 

LEDS complements TRIG’s wider Meikle Carewe Wind Farm community benefit fund which has delivered more than £340,000 to date in support of local groups and community projects in the area. Grant awards have included a £5,000 contribution towards Portlethen and District Voluntary Community Ambulance, £2,500 to Drumoak School Council for the school’s wildlife and therapeutic garden project, £3,000 to Crathes Public Hall Trust and £1,870 to Stonehaven Horizon Project. 

LEDS could also expand in Aberdeenshire following the submission of a planning application by RES for a 16-turbine wind farm and energy storage proposal at Hill of Fare, which lies approximately 6km north of Banchory. If consented, RES will work with the community to implement a tailored community benefits package worth £26.4 million over the project’s lifetime, which could include LEDS.  

ENDS 

Notes to editors: 

About RES 

RES is the world’s largest independent renewable energy company, working across 24 countries and active in wind, solar, energy storage, green hydrogen, transmission, and distribution. An industry innovator for over 40 years, RES has delivered more than 27GW of renewable energy projects across the globe and plans to bring more than 22GW of new capacity online in the next five years. 

As a service provider, RES has the skills and experience in asset management, operations and maintenance (O&M), and spare parts – supporting 41GW of renewable assets across 1,300 sites. RES brings to the market a range of purposeful, practical technology-based products and digital solutions designed to maximise investment and deployment of renewable energy.

RES is the power behind a clean energy future where everyone has access to affordable zero carbon energy bringing together global experience, passion, and the innovation of its 4,500 people to transform the way energy is generated, stored and supplied. Visit: www.res-group.com  

About TRIG 

The Renewables Infrastructure Group (TRIG) is a leading London-listed renewable energy infrastructure investment company. TRIG is invested in a portfolio of wind, solar and battery storage projects across six countries in Europe with aggregate net generating capacity of 2.3GW; enough renewable power for 1.6 million homes and to avoid 2.0 million tonnes of carbon emissions per annum.  

Further details can be found on TRIG’s website at www.trig-ltd.com. 

To find out more about: 

• Meikle Carewe Wind Farm please visit www.meikle-carewe.co.uk
• Hill of Fare Wind Farm please visit www.hilloffare-windfarm.co.uk
• TRIG please visit www.trig-ltd.com

CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: 

Sam Murgatroyd
RES Press Office
+44 7747 017 255
[email protected]