Measuring our impact

Across the UK and Ireland SSE Renewables onshore wind, offshore wind and hydro projects have provided socio-economic benefits.

As a responsible developer, operator and owner of renewable energy, we aim to be as transparent as possible. Below you can access reports which detail the contribution SSE Renewables is making to society, the environment and the economy.

This report, published April 2021, shows that our Strathy North, Achany, Gordonbush and Gordonbush Extension wind farms in Sutherland in the Highlands of Scotland are expected to contribute £485 million to the UK economy, throughout their development, construction and operational life. £327 million of that money is expected to be contributed to the Scottish economy with the Scottish Highlands benefitting from £131 million during the lifetime of the four projects. This analysis for the report was provided by leading economic consultancy, BiGGAR Economics.

You can read the full Sutherland socio-economic report here.

BiGGAR Economics' original analysis report, including the full methodology for the economic contribution calculation, can be read here.

SSE Renewables commissioned BiGGAR Economics to undertake analysis of four assets in the Great Glen area of northern Scotland: Glendoe hydro station, Dunmaglass onshore wind farm, Bhlaraidh onshore wind farm and Stronelairg onshore wind farm.

The analysis showed that together these four projects are expected to generate over £1.2bn of value for the Scottish economy during their lifetime. Of this, £360m of value will be felt directly in the Great Glen, which will see 130 jobs supported by the projects annually during their operation. A further 250 jobs across Scotland are expected to be supported by the operation of these projects.

Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Limited is Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm and a joint venture partnership between SSE Renewables (40%), Red Rock Power Limited (25%), The Renewables Infrastructure Group (17.5%) and Equitix (17.5%) with development, construction and now operation led by SSE Renewables on behalf of the partnership.

In July 2019, SSE Renewables published a report which describes the socio-economic benefits of Beatrice as a result of its development, onshore construction, offshore construction and operations and maintenance, with analysis undertaken by BiGGAR Economics, and is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the economic impact of the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm. It found the development, construction and 25-year lifetime operation of Beatrice is expected to generate £2.4bn of value for the UK economy, of which £1bn is expected to be in Scotland. The report also includes additional detail in relation to each of the phases of project delivery, including a number of case studies and key learnings for the future. It updates socio-economic analysis previously published in 2017.

Read the July 2019 socio-economic report here.

Read the July 2019 BiGGAR Economics report, including the full methodology for the economic contribution calculation, here.

SSE Renewables has proven its ability to deliver industry leading offshore wind projects including the development, construction and operation of Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm and the Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm.

This report explores the contributions that SSE Renewables has made in the fifteen years from 2004 to 2019, and sets out our ambitions to deliver the future offshore wind we need in the UK and Ireland.

In the ten years between March 2008 and March 2018 SSE Renewables' onshore wind capacity increased three-fold. SSER's expansion of its onshore wind portfolio in the UK and Ireland has delivered clean, low-carbon electricity, important investment in the UK, Scottish and Irish economies, and good quality jobs, many of which are located in areas where economic activity tends to be low.

This report explores the contributions SSER’s decade of clean growth has made, and continues to make, in the UK and Ireland.

The methodology document can be viewed here.

In 2019, BiGGAR Economics was commissioned by SSE Renewables to undertake a socio-economic impact assessment of Strathy North Wind Farm. This study quantified the economic impact of Strathy North wind farm and reviewed the community benefit associated with the wind farm.

During the development and construction of Strathy North Wind Farm, it was estimated that companies and organisations in Scotland secured contracts worth £59.4 million. The area is expected to secure £100.6 million in OPEX contracts over the wind farm’s operational lifetime (£4.0 million annually). Overall the expenditure, including decommissioning, secured in Scotland is expected to be £165.0 million, or 73% of TOTEX.

Read the full BiGGAR Economics report here.

SSE calculated the economic, environmental and social impacts in the UK from its £100m investment in the construction of Keadby wind farm.

Highlights from the report include: £43m contribution to UK GDP; a net positive CO2 impact from Keadby over the wind farm’s lifetime; and an £8.5mcommunity investment fund available to support to local community projects over 25 years.

Read the full impact report here.

Galway Wind Park is Ireland’s largest onshore wind development and is co-owned by SSE Renewables and Greencoat Renewables. The wind farm was co-developed by SSE Renewables and Ireland’s state forestry company Coillte, and the site was commissioned in October 2017. During development, SSE Renewables and Coillte worked together to quantify the most material economic, social and environmental impacts of the project. Main findings include: €88.7m added to Irish GDP and 1,657 years of Irish employment supported; €20m spent with local suppliers; enough renewable energy generated to power 89,000 homes and save 190,000 tCO2 from being released into the atmosphere; over €150,000 granted to community groups during construction and a multi-million euro community fund available during operation.

Read the full report here.

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Measuring our impact