OUR COMMUNITY ROLE

RES encourages staff to share their skills and knowledge outside work and we support a number of charitable, voluntary and educational initiatives. All our projects go through extensive community consultation to ensure that they bring benefits to local people and businesses and we are proud of the positive relationship we enjoy with the
public as a result.

Education

RES is committed to supporting educational initiatives that increase awareness about renewable energy and the environment and that develop skills and knowledge.

RES has sponsored and supported a number of educational schemes such as the Energy Engineering Scheme run by the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Atlantic Rising Project.

The Educational Facility at the RES Group’s award-winning low-emission headquarters in Hertfordshire hosts regular visits from schoolchildren, university students, community groups and professionals.

Techfest

RES staff participate in ‘Techfest in September’ - North East Scotland’s annual festival of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Its aim is to promote these subjects to young people and the wider community, through an accessible and entertaining festival programme.  In 2008, RES participated by making presentations entitled ‘Understanding Wind Energy’ at various secondary schools in the region.

Open Day

Our head office annual Open Days attract several thousand visiting members of the public who come to learn about renewable energy, visit exhibits from other green organisations and to have fun!

Scottish Renewables Festival

Saturday 13 June RES opened Forss Wind Farm, the most northerly wind farm on the UK mainland, for the Scottish Renewables Festival 2009 to celebrate the breadth and diversity of renewable energy in Scotland. Over 200 visitors enjoyed finding out what happens at the former US Navy Communications Base, near Thurso, that is now home to 6 wind turbines. A fun-packed day of activities, including children painting hand-prints on a turbine tower, also demonstrated the popularity of wind power as a clean, sustainable and secure source of energy that creates jobs and boosts local economies.

Supporting communities near our wind farms

There are many ways in which local communities benefit from having a wind farm in their area – such as rental payments to farmers and landowners;  local taxes; tourism and recreation; and community funds and sponsorship that can help finance local projects.  During the consultation process when we are developing a wind farm, we hold exhibitions in nearby towns and villages and arrange trips for local residents to see existing wind farms.

If you're a member of a group such as the Scouts, Guides, WI, round table, Rotary, Probus Club, etc.,  or work for a local company, and would like us to come and give you a presentation on the wind farm, please contact us.

Supporting events

RES installed the temporary turbine in London that provided power for the Electric Storm art installation in the South Bank. 

Galloway County Fair

RES is proud to be sponsoring an event at the Galloway County Fair this year.  The show is now in its eighth year and offers quality stands, traditional and exciting attractions but more than anything an enjoyable, entertaining and an educational family day out! Highlights this year include a performance by the Red Arrows, trade stands, craft stands, food halls, falconry, terrier racing, clay pigeon shooting, axe throwing, archery, stick making, fishing demo, hound show, falconry lessons, pipe bands and music.

Celtic Blue Rock

RES is a main sponsor of Celtic Blue Rock, a charity-based, free festival in West Wales. Held annually near Llanfyrnach, Pembrokeshire, within sight of RES’s Dyffryn Brodyn wind farm, the attractions include a wide variety of live music on 6 different stages, craft workshops, circus entertainers for the kids and an expanding eco zone plus a family workshop area.  It has a clear focus on youth and families with youngsters very well catered for.

Charity

RES offices worldwide raise money for national and local charities selected annually by staff.  A variety of fundraising activities are undertaken each month, from quiz nights, raffles, and Dress Down Fridays to abseiling, sponsored haircuts and a Red Nosed Wind Turbine.