Statkraft announces community fund for environmental projects in the East Riding of Yorkshire

Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable power generator, has announced a new community benefit fund in the East Riding of Yorkshire for projects which help the local area progress towards Net Zero or deliver positive social outcomes. The fund, which is linked to Soay Solar Farm and Thornton Greener Grid Park, launches with an initial funding award of £20,000.

The Soay Solar Farm and Greener Grid Park Community Fund is open now and will support community and environmental projects located across five parishes in East Riding. These parishes are Allerthorpe, Thornton, Melbourne, Barmby Moor and Bielby. 

Applications will be administered through GrantScape, a leading UK community fund administrator, that has a track record of distributing over £90 million across almost 1,500 projects. 

• From the beginning of construction, a fund of £20,000 will be made available every year for the life of the Greener Grid Park. 
• Once the project is fully operational in 2026, an additional £25,000 will be added to the fund pot, giving community groups the chance to bid for a share of a total of £45,000 during that year. 
• Applications are invited from eligible organisations that meet the criteria and are located within one of the five listed parishes.
• There is one application round each year. Organisations may apply for grants between £500 and £10,000.
• Applications for the first £20,000 annual fund are now being accepted and close on 5 June 2024.

The projects that are successful in gaining community benefit funding will complement the Soay Solar Farm and Greener Grid Park in securing East Yorkshire’s position at the forefront of action to combat climate change.

The first closing date for this new fund is 5 June 2024 and applicants will be notified of their application’s outcome by mid-July. A panel of community representatives will decide which applications are to be supported. 

Applications can be made via the online portal: www.grantscape.org.uk/statkraft/soay/  

Applicants are also welcome to call GrantScape directly on 01908 247630 if they wish to discuss a potential project or need any help on how to apply.

Cllr Leo Hammond, Wolds Weighton Ward Councillor, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: "I welcome this generous community fund provided voluntarily by Statkraft in relation to their new solar farm and grid stability development between Allerthorpe and Thornton. I am sure this will unlock great opportunities for and provide benefits to local communities."

Lucy Kent, Statkraft’s Principal Greener Grid Parks Project Manager said: “We’re pleased to have this fund open to applications so quickly after construction has started. Our thanks to the Allerthorpe and Thornton Parish Councils for their enthusiasm in helping us reach this stage, and their support in general to ensure a smooth construction process. We’re looking forward to seeing these community projects in action in the near future.”

Construction of the project is being delivered in three phases.  Phase One of the project, to build a HV connection point, began in October 2023. The project is now entering Phase Two which includes installation of the batteries. Phase Three will begin in 2025 to construct the solar farm, estimated to generate electricity equivalent to the needs of 18,500 homes. 

The batteries ensure the flexibility of supply needed to help the grid remain stable, eliminating the need to run fossil fuel power plants and allowing more renewable energy to be transmitted through the network.