Fourteen local organisations around Liverpool Bay have been awarded grants of up to GBP 20,000 through the round one of Dong Energy’s community benefit fund (CBF) established as part of the Burbo Bank Extension project.
Dong has committed to set aside approximately GBP 225,000 each year for community projects during the expected 25 year lifetime of the wind farm. Applications for round one opened earlier this year to all community organisations located coastally in Denbighshire, Flintshire, the Wirral and Sefton.
“The first round of the fund received a fantastic response from the local community, and we are delighted that the Fund is able to now start supporting such worthy causes. We look forward to seeing what the next application round will bring,” Phil Ford, DONG Energy’s Senior Stakeholder Advisor, said.
The second round of applications is now open , and the closing date for applications is 7 March 2016.
The Burbo Bank Extension offshore wind farm, currently under construction, is situated approximately 7km north of the North Wirral coast.
Once completed, the wind farm will have a total capacity of 258MW, enough to provide power for over 180,000 homes.
Onshore works on the project have already begun while offshore construction is expected to start in spring 2016.