We aim to go above the minimum regulatory requirements regarding engagement with affected communities, as we believe these engagements are essential for securing and sustaining the social license necessary for advancing renewable energy development. To ensure that our decisions reflect the perspectives of affected communities, we engage proactively with community stakeholders and local organisations and seek ongoing dialogue with them, ensuring their voices are heard and considered in our decision-making processes. This approach is being integrated across our business functions, markets, and asset projects. Engagement occurs at various frequencies and at various stages of a project. Our aim is to initiate early dialogue during the planning phase to gather the insights and concerns of the affected communities. This takes place through e.g. our community liaison officers and project staff employing different types of interaction, such as public meetings and consultations to facilitate open communication. When we employ community liaison officers in our projects, they often come from the communities we engage with, helping us gain a profound understanding of the local contexts. We continue this dialogue through the development, construction, and operation phases of our renewable energy assets.

One of our major accomplishments this year was launching the Hornsea 3 Community Fund to support local groups and organisations in North Norfolk and parts of Suffolk in the UK who work with community facilities or activities, skills and education, or environmental projects. In September 2024, the fund announced its first round of awards, as a total of GBP 249,000 was distributed to 21 local organisations selected for their potential to strengthen community well-being and resilience.

These projects include educational initiatives to enhance skills, environmental conservation efforts, and programmes aimed at improving public health and social well-being. Among the funded projects are community centres, youth initiatives, and environmental programmes focused on boosting local biodiversity. The fund is made available as part of our project to create the world’s single largest offshore wind farm, Hornsea 3, and will award a total of GBP 7 million over a targeted ten-year period.