Cloncreen Wind Farm Educational Scholarship Scheme 2025 - Closing Date
2025 Educational Scholarship Scheme open for applications
As part of the Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund, we want to ensure that people living in the vicinity of the Wind Farm benefit the most from the development. The cost of educational studies and student life can be a barrier for potential students.
To help reduce this barrier Cloncreen Wind Farm DAC has created an Educational Scholarship Scheme to support local students in accessing further education. The Cloncreen Wind Farm Educational Scholarship Scheme will be funded directly from the renewable energy generated at Cloncreen Wind Farm through its Community Benefit Fund.
The Scholarship includes a monetary grant to the value of €2,500 for each year of study, up to a maximum of 4 years, for four students living in the vicinity of Cloncreen Wind Farm. The Scholarship may be used towards course fees, accommodation, tools, transport costs etc. Applicants who have already completed their first/second/third years of study are welcome to apply.
BnM is pleased to announce that the 2025 Cloncreen Wind Farm Educational Scholarship Scheme is now open for applications.
- To view the full Scholarship Guidelines, please click here
- To view the full Scholarship Terms and Conditions, please click here.
- To view the Scholarship FAQ's, please click here.
Click here to apply
Should you have any queries on the Educational Scholarship Scheme, please get in touch with the Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Team by email via cloncreenwindfarm@bnm.ie. Alternatively, please contact our Community Liaison Officer Enda on 087 0579141.
Community Benefit Fund
The Cloncreen Wind Farm 2025 Community Benefit Fund is now closed. Thank you for your participation. We are currently processing applications, and details of successful applications will be announced in the coming months.
This is the third year of the Fund. Since 2023, BnM’s Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund has awarded over €300,000 to be shared across 41 local projects.
The Fund is administered by M-CO, an independent strategic design and project management company who specialise in the areas of climate action and community development.
The 2024 funding has benefited schools, sports clubs, general amenity, social initiatives, as well as community facilities. Please see below a list of recipients and projects supported from previous funding rounds:
Near Neighbour Scheme
Electricity Contribution
As part of the Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund, BnM has also launched a Near Neighbour Scheme.
The Near Neighbour Scheme offers electricity bill payers living within a prescribed distance of a wind turbine an annual discount on their electricity bills*.
Cloncreen Wind Farm introduced the Scheme based on various research carried out and through engaging with local communities, which indicated that the provision of direct benefit to residents who lived in close proximity to a wind farm should be considered.
The Scheme is part of the company’s extensive community benefits package.
Energy Efficiency Contribution / Education Support
The second aspect of the Near Neighbour Scheme is the provision of funding for individual residential properties within a prescribed distance of a wind turbine, to carry out energy efficiency measures on their property or use towards education support or towards the purchase of an EV vehicle*
In advance of commencement of works all homeowners must complete a Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment on their property to enable them to identify energy efficiency improvement works that could potentially be carried out on their property. Cloncreen Wind Farm has appointed Evolved Energy to carry out the BER Assessments for the residents.
To date, the company has completed a significant number of BER Assessments for residents adjoining the wind farm. Following the completion of the Assessment, applicants to the Scheme will progress to the next stage of the Scheme. They have applied and received approval from Cloncreen Wind Farm to carry out varying measures of Energy Efficiency works on their homes or receive education support.
Examples of Energy Efficiency which could be carried out on homes include:
- Attic Insulation
- Cavity Wall Insulation
- External Wall Insulation
- Installation of Solar PV System
- Upgrade of Windows and Doors
- Installation of Solar Thermal System
- Upgrade of Heating Systems and Controls.
The education support measure has provided assistance to a number of residents covering a variety of courses.
*subject to terms and conditions
This Fund has been established to support the local community with approximately €5 million of funding committed over the 15-year lifetime of the Fund.
Clonbullogue Launches Community Action Plan
Congratulations to Clonbullogue Development Planning Group who officially launched their Community Action Plan in March 2022.
The Community Action Plan was supported by Cloncreen Wind Farm and developed in conjunction with Offaly Local Development Company.
It is envisaged that this plan will aid the Community in identifying potential community projects to bring forward for funding as part of Cloncreen Wind Farm's Community Benefit Fund once the wind farm enters commercial operation.
We look forward to supporting the community and the various projects identified in the Community Plan over the coming years.
Well done to everyone involved!
Click here to view the report
Amenity Facilities
At Cloncreen Wind Farm we have over 20km of public amenity facilities that are used for cycling, walking, jogging and running in addition to an outdoor gym located on the wind farm. The walkway-cycleway is accessible all year round (except December 21st) during daylight hours – free of charge.
There is also a Sensory Garden and outdoor trim trail (gym) located on the wind farm. It is an ideal location for walking and cycling enthusiasts alike.
We look forward to welcoming you to BnM’s Cloncreen Wind Farm soon.