At ACCIONA Energía, we believe renewable energy projects should deliver benefits that extend far beyond clean electricity. We partner with local communities throughout the life of our projects to create lasting social, environmental and economic value through local employment, support for First Nations enterprises, community investment, education programs and regional partnerships. By listening to communities and investing where it matters most, we help ensure the benefits of the energy transition are shared with the people and regions that make it possible. To measure and report our impact transparently, ACCIONA Energía adopted the internationally recognised Business for Societal Impact (B4SI) framework in 2024.
As part of its community support, ACCIONA Energía is
committed to sustainable economic participation, creating
opportunities for local businesses and First Nations
enterprises, and ensuring the benefits of renewable
energy investment are shared with communities hosting its
renewable energy projects.
For more than 20 years, ACCIONA Energía has been investing in Australia's renewable energy future and the regional communities that make it possible. Today, our operating wind farms and solar assets generate clean energy for Australian homes and businesses while creating long-term opportunities for local economies, community organisations, landholders and future generations. Across every stage of a project's life cycle, we work alongside communities to build enduring relationships, create shared value and ensure the benefits of renewable energy are felt well beyond the project boundary.
ACCIONA Energia’s MacIntyre Wind Farm isn’t just delivering an additional 923MW of renewable energy to the region, it’s also investing in the community by way of jobs, partnerships, essential infrastructure and grants that promote health, education, sustainability, and cultural development.
Hosting wind or solar infrastructure provides farmers with a new income stream without disrupting their core business. It turns underused land into productive space and provides long-term economic security. For ACCIONA Energía, these partnerships make renewable energy possible. For farmers, they mean stability and resilience in a changing climate.
ACCIONA invites small grants applications from community groups who wish to contribute to the sustainable development of the communities in which we operate. The nature of the sponsorship program is based on a combination of factors, including the size of the project, and is determined in consultation with the community. Applications are open from January to March annually.
ACCIONA implements an annual Scholarship Program at our sites when they enter the operations phase. Each year, we are proud to provide one-time scholarships of $5,000 to students wishing to undertake tertiary study that will benefit their community. Scholarship recipients are selected through an application process, and preference will be given to those studying engineering, science, or agricultural-based courses. Applications are open from February to March annually.
The Neighbourhood Benefit Program is open to eligible residents close to the Mortlake South Wind Farm. It involves a pre-loaded EFTPOS card, where the funds loaded onto the card are able to be spent on goods and services from participating local businesses. Residents that permanently reside in a dwelling located within 4km of the Mortlake South Wind Farm are invited to apply.
The Neighbourhood Benefit Program re-opens each year in June. Please note that if you have previously registered for the program, there is no requirement to re-apply, cards will be posted to you automatically.
We are committed to a ‘Community First’ approach in building long-term community partnerships to drive economic and social change by addressing each community's unique needs and aspirations.
Social Impact Assessments are a key tool for measuring and improving the environment and communities with which we assess impacts.
ACCIONA has its own methodology for identifying, assessing and managing all impacts of our projects.