The UK government has published a working paper outlining proposals for a potential mandatory community benefits scheme tied to low-carbon energy infrastructure, alongside measures to support shared ownership of renewable energy projects.
The document sets out possible design options for such a scheme, including its scope, administration, and enforcement mechanisms. It also seeks feedback on whether existing legislative powers, such as those in the Infrastructure Act 2015, should be used to support shared ownership in renewable energy developments.
The paper includes a series of questions aimed at assessing the rationale for government intervention and evaluating the potential social and economic impacts of the proposed policies.
Industry group RenewableUK welcomed the consultation process. “Renewable energy developers have a long history of providing a wide range of benefits for local communities, such as community benefit funds which support local initiatives, electricity discounts, employment initiatives and environmental projects,” said James Robottom, head of policy at RenewableUK.
He added that the onshore wind sector currently contributes around £75 million annually to community benefit fund schemes across the UK.
“We welcome the Government’s consultation and will engage with it to ensure that the benefits received by local communities hosting energy infrastructure are proportionate and continue to meet their needs,” Robottom said. “Communities must remain at the heart of the decision-making process to determine what form these benefits should take.”
The government’s paper also emphasises the importance of tailoring benefit schemes to local needs, with flexibility highlighted as a key principle. According to Robottom, “Flexibility is vital so that communities genuinely have the opportunity to shape these schemes to the priorities of their local area, which can vary widely from place to place.”
The consultation is part of broader efforts to ensure local communities see tangible benefits from hosting renewable energy projects, while also exploring mechanisms to give residents a stake in the energy transition.
