Call for Projects

Now in its seventh year, the Call for Projects is an annual opportunity for communities based around our energy sites to benefit from additional funding for initiatives. Communities can submit projects that are related to the Call’s theme with a chance to receive up to €10,000 in funding.

Uncovering community causes

Values in action

The theme of 2024’s Call for Projects was based around our values, with communities connected to our operational, under construction, and permitted sites all invited to share proposals that demonstrate Impact, Care, or Connection.

In total, 64 projects were submitted across five core countries: France, Spain Italy, UK, Portugal, with XX being chosen to receive funding.

Funded projects

Monitoring and conservation to mitigate climate change - UK

In 2024 we engaged ecologists to formally survey the species in Loch Wood, near our Auchrobert wind farm in South Lanarkshire. This was a great opportunity to involve local residents in the protection of Loch Wood and learn about climate change and its mitigation. The primary aims of the project were to provide knowledge and skills to begin long-term monitoring (and mitigation) of climate change in 67 acres of ancient woodland, and to develop anv inspiring and innovative program of environ mental education for local primary schools and residents.

Ancient woodland covers only 4% of land in Scotland, making Loch Wood a valuable research resource. The project also aims to increase biodiversity in this endangered environment and develop local environmental knowledge. This in turn, provides long-term benefits for individuals, the local Community and the planet, inspiring local residents to use and actively conserve their local Community woodland and improving Community cohesion by providing opportunities for the Community to come together

Scaling up our impact - UK offshore

Our commitment to share benefit with local communities isn’t limited to onshore wind. The pioneering approach that Nadara has taken towards community benefit laid the path for success in two offshore wind project bids in Scotland. The innovation element of our proposal relied on the opportunity to test a community ownership scheme with coastal communities.

The initiative will comprise two parts: piloting an innovative community ownership model and exploring the establishment of a Scottish wider offshore wind community benefit fund, ensuring that communities across Scotland are at the heart of our projects. Lessons learned from the tests conducted in the pilot phase will help us to progressively shape our final community offering when our offshore wind projects reach commercial operation.

Carbon capture and enhanced wellbeing - France

2024 saw us answer a Call for Projects application in the municipality of Vitry-la-Ville in north-eastern France, located near our Eol Team wind farm. The municipality’s application outlined a plan to plant trees and shrubs in the community centre garden to both capture carbon and create shade in the summer. We could instantly see both the climate and wellbeing benefits of this project and were thrilled to provide funding, resulting in around 100 trees and shrubs being planted.

“We are proud to support this new project in Vitry-la-Ville, where a local student has also received funding from our student support scheme. The mayor is not only very engaged in renewable energy, he is also a local champion for us, actively promoting how wind farms can deliver tangible benefits to the neighbouring communities." Nicolas Thelliez, Community Relations Manager, France

Building a long-lasting relationship year on year - Italy

Over the years the relationship between Nadara and the community of San Sostene in South of Italy, hosting our Eolica Sud wind farm, has led to the delivery of several impactful and cost-effective initiatives identified together with local stakeholders.

In 2024, we provided almost 40 hours of in-house training on renewable energy to young students, both on site (around the wind farm) and at local schools. We also supported two additional initiatives proposed by the community focused on education, local tourism and sport infrastructures that are critical to maintain social connections amongst young and elderly generations.

The relationship Nadara has created with the municipality should be taken as an example of how a good investor in environmental matters is also one that contributes to the growth of the community"

Luigi Aloisio, Mayor of San Sostene

Increasing access and lowering emissions - Spain

A winner of our Call for Projects initiative in 2023, the Veldedo Cultural and Sports Association benefited from funding in 2024 for its project to renovate the heating system of its head office. The building, located near our Veldedo Wind Farm, is used as a meeting room, office, consulting room, and training room, serving a large part of the local population. However, it was only usable in the warmer months due to its inefficient and costly butane and coal-powered heating system.

Through our Call for Projects we supported the purchase of a new renewable biomass system, making it possible to utilise the community space all year round and reducing the carbon emissions of the building.

Launching Call for Projects for the first time - Portugal

In 2024 we launched the Call for Projects in Portugal for the first time, resulting in the development of two impactful initiatives. First, we are supporting the local association ALDEIA, which manages a Wildlife Rehabilitation and Investigation Centre (RIAS) in Ria Formosa Natural Park. The project, proposed by the community of Tavira and Faro near our Malhanito wind farm, aims to improve the management of the department specialised in treating young animals and cubs.

Benefits extend beyond the simple enhancement of native fauna species. The project is also playing a key role in in public health and epidemiological surveillance and in increasing biodiversity awareness by sharing knowledge about the threats to the conservation of species with the local municipalities.

The second initiative was proposed by the community around our Serra dos Candeeiros wind farm (in the Alentejo region). Funding was requested to purchase tractors for the local cooperative Terra Chã that provides natural habitat maintenance services through grazing.

As a result, the cooperative will be able to increase their activities, providing a series of positive impacts for the local community: from creating additional employment around herding and tourism, to maintenance and control of biomass, reducing the probability and impact of wildfires