SSE Renewables and Clyde Wind Farm has announced a new £600,000 fund to help drive the net zero ambitions of communities in South Lanarkshire.

The fund is available to help South Lanarkshire communities to realise their ambitions for a low carbon future.

Clyde Wind Farm Ltd is a partnership between SSE Renewables (50.1%), Greencoat UK Wind Holdco Limited (28.2%) and GLIL Corporate Holdings Ltd (21.7%).

The Sustainable Development Fund is open to non-profit making organisations, community groups and charities across the South Lanarkshire region. It is recognised that the climate emergency is impacting local communities and successful projects will focus on initiatives which support a low carbon future, for example electrifying community transport programmes, providing advice to households on low carbon energy or supporting community insulation programmes. It is hoped that project will consider new approaches to help local people prepare for a net zero future.

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The fund has previously invested £1.9m in South Lanarkshire to support transformational projects, including an award of £170,000 to Clyde Gateway to develop a district heating programme in Shawfield to support local businesses and communities with affordable green energy.

Ian Manson Chief Executive, Clyde Gateway, said: "The support of £170,000 we received from the fund was invaluable in helping us develop the business case for our D2 Grids community energy project.

"Based on using renewable energy to support our project for district heating and cooling in Shawfield, the funding has enabled us to go on to deliver the full project and provide a long term solution to local energy needs."

Lord Jack Mcconnell Chair Of The Sustainable Development Fund, said: "The panel chooses the best proposals that will make the biggest impact and will result in sustainable change locally. We look forward to receiving ambitious applications from organisations for this round of funding in South Lanarkshire, particularly those which help deliver jobs and support for the most vulnerable on the road to net zero."

Stephen Wheeler, Managing Director At SSE Renewables, said: "We are proud to open this funding to non-profit organisations, community groups and charities across south Lanarkshire as we know that the funding from Clyde Wind Farm (Scotland) Ltd is vital to many.

"While we build a better world of energy, we are ensuring that local communities have what they need to thrive, both now and in the future which is why the Clyde Community Funds will invest £22m in south Lanarkshire communities over the lifetime of the wind farm."

The deadline for applications to the Sustainable Development Fund is Noon on 18 January 2023.