SSE announces over €7m Community Funding taking total investment past €26m
09 Sep 2026
Last year SSE supported 386 projects and 80 scholarships across the island of Ireland
SSE has announced a record €7.25 million investment in communities during 2025/26, supporting 386 projects and 80 scholarships across the island of Ireland, and bringing its total investment since 2001 to €26.47 million.
Published today, SSE's All-Island Community Investment Review for 2025/26 shows how communities are using funding from across SSE Renewables, SSE Thermal and SSE Airtricity to deliver lasting social, economic and environmental benefits.
SSE Renewables awarded around €2.5 million to support communities that host its wind farms, while SSE Airtricity awarded €4.7 million to support local sustainability projects right across the island.
The review demonstrates how the transition towards a lower carbon electricity system in Ireland and Northern Ireland can support lasting social value in communities, helping ensure the benefits of that transition are shared locally.
Barry O’Regan, Chief Financial Officer at SSE, said:
“Since launching our community investment programmes in Ireland and Northern Ireland, SSE has awarded more than €26 million in community funding across the island, and this year we have invested more than ever before, with a record €7.2 million supporting communities to shape the future they want to see.
“We recognise that creating lasting value means investing not only in the energy infrastructure itself, but also in the communities connected to it. These funds are about much more than financial support – they are about working in partnership with local communities to deliver tangible benefits for the people and places that host critical infrastructure.
“With Ireland hosting the EU Council Presidency, the publication of this review is a real opportunity to showcase how Ireland has become a European leader in delivering lasting benefits for communities through the transition to a cleaner energy future.”
Rhian Kelly, Chief Sustainability Officer at SSE, said:
"SSE’s community funds are making a real local impact across Ireland and Northern Ireland, supporting projects shaped by communities themselves. Through initiatives such as SSE Airtricity’s island-wide Generation Green Community Fund and our newest fund at Yellow River Wind Farm in Offaly, we are helping communities invest in sustainability, energy efficiency, education and local priorities that matter most to them.
“We believe SSE’s approach is an example of best practice in community-led funding — ensuring the benefits of our investments are shared locally and deliver lasting value across the island of Ireland. As we continue to invest in the electricity infrastructure needed to support energy security and economic growth, we remain committed to ensuring communities feel tangible benefits."
The review also highlights SSE's commitment to community-led decision making, with local communities helping shape funding priorities and independent community representatives playing a central role in investment decisions. This approach helps ensure investment reflects local priorities while creating long-term benefits for current and future generations.
As SSE continues to invest in renewable energy and supporting energy infrastructure, community investment remains a core part of its approach, helping communities share in the economic, social and environmental benefits of that investment.