Statkraft announces community fund targeted at climate change projects

Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable power generator, has announced a new community benefit fund that supports projects which address carbon reduction and help progress towards net zero climate targets.

The Keith Greener Grid Park Community Fund is open now and will support community and environmental projects located within Keith and the wider Strathisla boundary. They will focus on carbon dioxide reduction in local communities.

• The Fund has £20,000 available each year
• Applications are invited from eligible organisations that meet the criteria and are located within Keith and the wider Strathisla boundary
• There is one application round each year – additional rounds may be established if all of the funds are not allocated
• The minimum grant groups can apply for is £500
• Groups can apply for up to £20,000

Applications will be administered through GrantScape, a leading UK community fund administrator that has a track record of distributing over £90 million to nearly 1,500 projects, in partnership with Keith Community Council.

The first closing date for the Fund is 12th July with final decisions reached in early September. A local Fund Panel has been established with representatives from Keith Community Council, Strathisla Community Council and Moray Council to help prioitise which applications are to be supported. 

Applications can be made via a new online portal.

Callum Stuart, Keith Community Council, said: “The Keith Greener Grid Fund will provide £20,000 each year to distribute to great causes in the area that will bring benefits directly to our community. It is an added bonus that the fund will help us to focus on carbon dioxide reduction and there are a wide range of potential ways in which this can be done. In these challenging economic times it is good to have positive news of a new annual funding stream. We thank Statkraft for making this available and we look forward to working with GrantScape to identify worthwhile projects in our area.”

Councillor Theresa Coull, one of the ward councillors for Keith and Cullen on Moray Council, said: “This new funding is to be welcomed and it is right that companies such as Statkraft work to bring benefits to the communities where they have operations. I know that many organisations and projects in our community will put this funding to good use. The fact that the fund will help with the bigger picture of climate change and achieving net zero targets for many years to come is an added bonus.”

Guy Nicholson, Statkraft’s Head of Greener Grid Parks said: “Statkraft has a ‘good neighbour’ ethos and always seek to bring added value to the communities where we work. We commissioned GrantScape as independent experts to help establish the Fund and would like to thank the Keith Community Council and Councillors Donald Gatt and Theresa Coull, who worked with GrantScape to make the Keith Greener Grid Park Community Fund a reality. We look forward to seeing the many ways in which this fund will bring real local benefits.”

Examples of projects that could be considered for grants include:

• Energy efficiency audits of community buildings and facilities to identify and prioritise important capital improvement works
• Costs associated with the above findings. This might include thermal insulation, solar panels and battery storage, ground source heating, double / triple glazing improvements, more efficient heating, micro wind turbines etc
• Educational activities that promote the net zero movement, i.e. costs of school trips to renewable facilities, school or community educational sessions / workshops / events
• Training for voluntary / community groups to help reduce their own carbon footprint
• Environmental and habitat species conservation which protects and / or enhances a public space (may include tree planting for example)
• Electrical vehicle charging point installations, in public locations
• Other projects that deliver energy efficiency upgrades such as lighting improvements (i.e. not necessarily in public / community buildings)

Other projects which prioritise carbon reduction will be considered. Match funding is not required for applications less than £5,000. Grant applications above £5,001 will require a minimum of 20% match funding, though it will not need to have been secured prior to application. In-kind contributions can be used as match funding.

Eligible Organisations, who can apply for funding include:

• Voluntary, community groups, local charities
• Community Councils
• Social Enterprises and Community Interest Companies operating on a non-profit-distributing basis. These are defined by Social Enterprise UK as ‘businesses that trade to tackle social problems, improve communities, people’s life chances, or the environment. They make their money from selling goods and services in the open market, but they reinvest their profits back into the business or the local community’. Such organisations must have a minimum of three unrelated Directors
• Schools and educational establishments (as long as the grant supports activities above standard curriculum requirements)
• Consultants that provide educational training courses on carbon reduction / net zero