The Scottish Government has proposed updated community benefit recommendations for onshore renewable energy projects, including a higher benchmark for wind developments.
Under the draft changes, the suggested rate for onshore wind would rise to £6,000 per megawatt per year, up from the previous £5,000 level.
The government also proposed a range of £700–£1,000 per MW per year for solar projects and introduced a new recommended minimum of £150 per MW per year for battery energy storage systems.
The Good Practice Principles, first published in 2014 and updated in 2019, set national guidance for developers and communities on voluntary community benefit arrangements.
Separate updates covering offshore renewable energy developments will be issued independently, the government said.
Claire Mack, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said the sector has maintained strong participation despite rising costs.
“Despite community benefit commitments being voluntary and now costing onshore wind developers twice as much as they did in 2014, the sector has maintained exceptionally high compliance since 2019,” Mack said.
“These funds deliver positive outcomes and remain unmatched by any other sector of the economy.”
She added that policymakers must safeguard project economics.
“Amidst an increasingly difficult cost environment that undermines Scotland’s competitiveness, the Scottish and UK governments must protect the viability of projects,” Mack said.
“Failing to do so at this point will undermine our overall ability to secure the societal gains of our energy transition.”
