Schools, youth organisations and community groups receive funding to support local projects
EDF Renewables Ireland is announcing details of the first recipients of Community Benefit Funding from its three solar farms in Wexford and Kilkenny. A number of schools, youth organisations and community groups will all benefit from this year’s funding, worth a combined total of almost €50,000, to support projects and develop new facilities.
With a combined capacity of 17MW, Coolroe, Blusheens and Curraghmartin Solar Farms are among Ireland’s first operational solar farms and were energised last year. Community Benefit Funds, independently administered by SECAD Partnership CLG, have been established for each of the three solar farms, and will provide funding for the next 15 years, generating c.€750,000 over the lifetime of the funds.
In Kilkenny, Carrigeen National School and Mooncoin Foróige will use funding from Curraghmartin Solar Farm to create an inclusive and long-term youth project for the wider community. This will include providing the youth club equipment such as a pool table, table tennis table and tabletop football, as well as the addition of a battery energy storage system to complement their existing solar panels. A full list of awards is detailed below.
Welcoming the announcement, Damian Byrne, Development Manager at EDF Renewables Ireland, said: “We’re delighted that so many local schools, youth groups and community organisations will benefit from this funding. EDF Renewables is committed to being a good neighbour to local communities, and ensuring that those communities benefit from renewable energy projects in their area.
“All of the applications for the Community Benefit Funding were aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and contained some terrific ideas about how this funding can make a real difference to local communities in Kilkenny and Wexford. We can’t wait to see these projects come to fruition over the coming months.”
Principal of Carrigeen National School Sinead Murphy said: “As a community-focused school, Carrigeen NS aims to utilise the funding award to enhance educational resources and promote cultural enrichment through collaborative initiatives with the Foróige Youth Club. This funding will significantly impact our pupils and the broader community by providing access to quality arts, music, and drama programs, as well as renewable energy solutions. We believe these efforts will foster a more inclusive and engaged community, while also instilling a sense of environmental stewardship and sustainability among our youth.”
Aidan Gleeson, Club Development Officer at Mooncoin Foróige, said: “We hope to create a safe place where young people can come and achieve their full potential in a club that they take pride in. One of the most challenging aspects of starting up a club in any area is the lack of financial wherewithal to help the club thrive and survive. The funding will take that pressure from the club.”
Paul O’Keeffe, of the Yola Farm and Hedge School said: “This funding will help the 200+ residents from the local estates, the school community of 80+ students, the residents of the local direct provision centre, and the residents of the hotels where Ukrainian families are staying. It will particularly help this latter group who have no access to cooking facilities, as well as the children who use the site to see the direct connection between crops they have planted and harvested and tasty food that they eat. We want our communities to see that it is possible to reduce their carbon footprint by eating and cooking communally.”
Adeline Foxe of Gusserane National School said: “We as a school community are very thankful to EDF Renewables for this funding to allow our dream of a sensory garden to take place. The sensory garden will allow fruits and vegetables to be sown and maintained by our pupils. Pupils will have the opportunity to learn about climate change, biodiversity and sustainable living in a safe and practical environment. The importance of educating our youth about climate change, biodiversity and sustainable living has never been more important, and the garden will have a lasting impact on school life into the future.”
Deirdre Byrne, Principal at Ballycullane National School, said: “We are deeply grateful to the Community Benefit Fund for this support and investment in our school, allowing us to refurbish and upgrade our existing outdoor basketball court, and transform it into a clean, bright and multifunctional space. We look forward to seeing the positive changes this project will bring to our school community and know that it will assist us in our vision of ensuring every child can ‘be the best that you can be.’”
Caitriona McGrath, Principal at St Leonard’s National School, said: “Saint Leonards National School’s goal is to create a vibrant, engaging outdoor learning area that will provide our students with a unique opportunity to learn in a natural environment. We are incredibly grateful for this funding, which will allow us to purchase essential materials and resources needed to develop the outdoor learning area, providing students with hands-on learning experiences that are not possible within the traditional classroom setting. We believe that this project will not only enhance our students’ educational experiences but also inspire a greater appreciation for the natural world.”
Full list of awards:
| Fund | Organisation Name | Award |
| Coolroe Solar Farm Community Benefit Fund | Ballycullane National School, St Leonard’s National School and Gusserane National School | €13,639 to be divided between the three projects |
| Blusheens Solar Farm Community Benefit Fund | Yola Hedge School and Family Centre and The Killinick Project | €23,652 to be divided between the two projects |
| Curraghmartin Solar Farm Community Benefit Fund | Carrigeen National School and Mooncoin Foróige | €10,650 |
About EDF Renewables Ireland
EDF Renewables Ireland is part of one of the world’s largest electricity companies and our investment and innovation in renewable energy projects is reducing costs for consumers and bringing significant benefits to communities.
EDF Renewables Ireland’s team has a wealth of experience in bringing complex development projects to fruition, across onshore and offshore wind, solar PV and battery storage technology, and is supported by more than 600 colleagues in the UK.
In 2020 we acquired 50% of Codling Wind Park, a major offshore wind farm which will be located off the coast of Wicklow, and have also entered into a 50:50 partnership to develop the Emerald and Western Star floating offshore wind farms, to be located off the coasts of Cork and Clare, respectively. Together, these three projects could power over two million homes across Ireland.
In 2023 we energised three of Ireland’s first grid-scale solar farms and have announced plans for six onshore wind farms across Ireland. In total we have an Irish onshore development pipeline of almost 1GW.
In the UK, EDF Renewables has an operating portfolio of 43 renewable energy sites including battery, onshore and offshore wind (together totalling more than 1.5GW) and a development pipeline of almost 14GW. EDF Renewables operates in more than 20 countries around the world.
