Local Benefits
RES seeks to be a power for good in the communities that neighbour its projects by working openly and constructively to ensure tangible local benefits.
Some of the most meaningful benefits that can be delivered from a wind farm proposal like Kinnelhead are jobs and employment for local businesses and contractors, in addition to the use of local services and amenities, all of which can generate a significant amount of inward investment within the area.
Generating enough clean, green electricity to power the equivalent of approximately 225,000 homes annually.1
Predicted to deliver around £7.1 million inward investment in the form of jobs, employment and the use of local services during the development, construction, and first year of operation.
An expected £7.2 million of economic activity linked to operations and maintenance work.2
Up to £91.1 million in businesses rates to Dumfries and Galloway Council supporting vital local services.3
Provide a community benefit package worth over £42.7 million over the wind farm's 50-year lifetime.
Potential to deliver an annual discount on the electricity bills of properties closest to the wind farm
Tailored community benefit package
RES is proposing a tailored package of benefits for the community from the Kinnelhead Wind Farm that would be worth £5,000 per megawatt (or equivalent) of installed capacity per annum, which works out at over £42.7 million (or equivalent) over the 50-year operational lifetime of the project.
This package could include RES’ innovative Local Electricity Discount Scheme (LEDS) - please see across for more information on LEDS.
Should the project receive consent, the area of benefit for Kinnelhead Wind Farm will be determined in consultation with locally elected representatives from the closest communities.
Local Electricity Discount Scheme
Our unique Local Electricity Discount Scheme (LEDS) seeks to deliver direct and tangible benefits to people living and working closest to RES’ operational wind farms. Developed in response to research and feedback from local communities around RES' operational wind farms, LEDS offers an annual discount to the electricity bills of those properties closest to a participating wind farm.
The scheme would be open to all residential, business and community buildings with an electricity meter (including schools, places of worship and village halls) within the eligible area.
If LEDS is something that you are interested in as a potential part of a tailored community benefits package at Kinnelhead Wind Farm, or if you would like more information, please let us know.
Sponsorships
Proud Supporters of the Scottish Cross-Country (SXC) Championships
RES are thrilled to have sponsored the SXC Mountain Bike Series, a premier event series celebrating endurance, skill, and community in off-road cycling. The SXC Championships bring together riders of all ages, genders, and abilities - from Under 8s to Super Vets - competing across Scotland’s top trails. Spanning five rounds from March to August 2025, the series provides riders the chance to take to the trails across Scotland, from Cathkin Braes near RES’s Glasgow office, to trail centres near our project sites including the Tarland Trails in Aberdeenshire, Glentress in Peebles and the Forest of Ae in Dumfries and Galloway. Run almost entirely by dedicated volunteers, who are also organizing a British Series round at Kirroughtree, the SXC embodies the passion of the cycling community, fostering future Scottish and UK champions who go to compete on the world stage.
Our sponsorship reflects our commitment to promoting grassroots and community-led projects, funding the volunteer programme, youth development events, women’s participation, and, of course, the all-important medals. As a Power for Good, RES is proud to be able to support this series of events and the dedicated SXC volunteers.
1 The homes figure has been calculated by taking the predicted annual electricity generation of the site (based on RES assessments Kinnelhead has a predicted capacity factor of 48.7%) and dividing this by the annual average electricity figures from DESNZ (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) showing that the annual UK average domestic household consumption is 3,239 kWh (Jan 2024)
2 Expenditure in the local economy during the development, construction and operation of wind farms varies from project to project due to various factors including project size, project duration, and the availability of local suppliers. In recent years, RES has seen typical spend with local stakeholders, suppliers and service providers in the region of £279,000 per wind turbine during the development, construction and first year of project operation. In some cases, it has been possible to significantly improve on this number.
3 The business rates figure of £1.8m has been calculated from the most recent non-domestic rates revaluation in Scotland (2023 valuation) and predicted performance of the wind farm