Delivering change in local communities
At OnPath Energy, we believe in a just transition to renewable energy which is fair, inclusive and benefits everyone, with nobody left behind. We believe that by harnessing the power of wind and solar energy here in the UK, we can help to drive down energy bills for households and place local communities at the heart of the transition to a greener future.
Supporting a just transition
OnPath Energy is helping the UK transition to 100% renewable energy in a way which benefits everyone. We believe no one should be left behind in the transition to a greener future and strive to develop the long-term partnerships that will help take us there.
For OnPath, supporting a just transition means:
Innovation
Innovating our technologies to drive down energy bills for UK households.
Partnership
Creating change at a local level in full partnership with communities to ensure they benefit socially, economically and environmentally from our projects.
Long-term security
Ensuring long-term energy security for the nation by harnessing and storing renewable energy on UK soil.
Resilience
Building climate resilience into communities to help them navigate the changing future.
Projects
Our projects are more than just a means to create renewable energy, they are regional, community-led projects that benefit everyone:
240,000+
UK homes had their annual demands met by OnPath in 2024
£2.1 million+
allocated by our community funds, panels and partnerships in 2024
£9.5 million
spent by our partners during the construction of our most recent wind farm
Over 1,000
regional jobs supported by our most recent wind farm submission
Partnering with local communities
The OnPath community partnership approach is a leading example in the UK energy sector. We care about what we do and the way that we do it. We go above and beyond to engage with local communities to ensure everyone can have a say in how our renewables projects develop.
Community-led investment
In 2024, we delivered over £2.1 million in community funds from our renewables projects, supporting over 100 community groups and environmental projects in Northern England and Scotland.
By placing communities at the center of decision-making when it comes to delivering community benefits, we can ensure that our transition to renewables builds a positive legacy for the future.
Strong community voices have been crucial in delivering funding to the right places, often delivering a much needed boost to local community spaces – like Sandford Village hall near our Kype Muir Wind Farm which received a £45,000 grant to support its renovation.
Funding for local communities
We establish community funds for every OnPath wind farm project to ensure that the benefits are channelled back into the local community. We build funding models that communities own and manage. We’ve generated more than £7.6 million in funds for the communities surrounding our wind farms since our first project became operational.
Partnering with local communities
The Kype Muir Community Partnership
The KMCP is comprised of representatives from the five local community councils who direct the funding from Kype Muir and Kype Muir Extension. The KMCP played a crucial role during the development of Kype Extension and the relationship we’ve built over the years helped us take on valuable community feedback when planning the extension. Together, the projects are expected to deliver more than £21m of lifetime community benefits.
Guided by individual community action plans, the KMCP can respond to different local priorities and ensure that community benefits are felt by those who need it most.
Kype Muir Community Partnership
Supporting global initiatives
As well as addressing local issues, the funding helps address globally recognised initiatives supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The UN SDGs are used by governments and businesses around the world to guide and measure performance against development indicators.
Bodinglee Wind Farm
Helping households reduce energy bills
When developing our project proposals, we aim to maximise the benefits for local residents. In our proposal for the OnPath Wind Farm at Bodinglee, we worked with experts at Natural Power to devise a series of route-maps to help the 6,500 households near the site with household bills while also helping them to reduce their carbon footprint.
South Lanarkshire
Delivering local jobs and skills
We partner with South Lanarkshire Council to boost jobs and skills in the local area through a dedicated fund.
To date, the jobs and skills fund has supported around 2,000 people in South Lanarkshire. The initiative uses a tailored approach, from hands-on support like assisting with job applications, to providing college grants or practical equipment such as tool belts for apprentices.
Delivering local jobs and skills
Supporting the next generation
We want to ensure the next generation has the skills and knowledge to take our vision forward and drive the UK’s innovation in renewables.
We collaborate with schools, colleges and community groups to promote STEM education and renewable energy. We also commit to delivering at least ten OnPath Education bursaries (worth £500 each) for every new project we develop.
“Most of our work is from outside South Lanarkshire, so a big local project would result in more money staying in the region, resulting in our local suppliers benefiting along with local amenities and services.
Ewan Turner Drumclog Plant