How is Community Benefit Calculated?
Community benefit funding is calculated based on the transmission infrastructure delivered as part of a project.
Funding is allocated at £200,000 per kilometre of overhead line and £530,000 for each substation, converter station or switching station.
Where a project includes a combination of infrastructure types, the total community benefit fund is calculated by adding together the value of each eligible asset.
How is Community Benefit Funding Structured?
Once the total community benefit fund for a project has been calculated, it is allocated across three funding streams to ensure support is available for projects of different scales. This creates opportunities for small community initiatives, larger local projects, and strategic regional investments, enabling the fund to deliver benefits at both a local and wider regional level.
Grassroot Grants | For local initiatives, projects with a specific community focus = (£1,000 - £10,000) |
Local Grants: | For community-led projects responding to immediate needs = (£10,000-£500,000) |
Regional Grants:(20%) | Cumulative sums placed into a Regional Pot for larger-scale projects aligned with regional priorities and long-term goals.
(£500,000+) |
What are our funding themes?
All applications must demonstrate how their project aligns with at least one of our six funding themes. These themes reflect the priorities of local communities and help ensure funding is directed towards projects that deliver meaningful, lasting benefits.
Applicants are encouraged to identify the theme, or themes, that best match the outcomes their project will achieve.
Eligibility for funding is focused on communities that host, or are directly impacted by, the transmission infrastructure associated with a specific project.
Eligible
- Not-for-profit organisations (e.g. charities, CICs, community groups)
- Must deliver clear public/ community benefit
- Must operate within SPEN regions
- Local authorities (project-based, non-statutory)
- Religious bodies (if providing wider commuity benefit)
- Must meet basic governace & financial checks
Ineligible
- For-profit organisations (paying dividends)
- Political parties Organisations based outside Scotland (unless local presence)
- Schools/universities applying directly
- Organisations failing due diligence/in complicance issues
Applications are welcomed from eligible not-for-profit organisations, community groups, charities, CICs, local authorities and other organisations that can demonstrate a clear community benefit. All applicants must operate within SP Energy Networks licence areas and meet the relevant governance and financial requirements.
The areas listed below host eligible infrastructure projects and have funding pots available. Funding is provided through dedicated funding rounds, which may not always be open for applications.
Please refer to each area's page for the latest funding round information. More areas will be added over the coming years, and areas will be removed once all available funding has been awarded.
Chirmorie Overhead Line Fund
Coalburn North New Substation Fund
LORG Overhead Line & New Substations
LWUP/ECUP Overhead Line and New Substation Fund
Mark Hill Substation Upgrade Fund
Girvan
Photographer - Niels Johannes
Meadowmill New Substation Fund
Sanquhar New Substation Fund
Stranoch Overhead Lines & Substation Fund
To check which community council your organisation is based in, please use Community Council Finder.