A new scholarship fund for Galway students has been unveiled by the owners of the Galway Wind Park.
SSE Renewables and Greencoat Renewable will fund the new bursary, which is available to students in the Galway area, to the tune of €100,000 each year.
The co-owners of Galway Wind Park have partnered with National University of Ireland Galway, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, and FORUM Connemara CLG to launch the first scholarship programme.
It is designed to provide funding for students who will be undertaking an undergraduate or postgraduate course, while also driving awareness around the area of sustainability.
The application process will open on August 23 and will close on October 4 2019. The successful candidates will receive up to 50 per cent funding support towards the cost of their third level student fees.
SSE Ireland's head of sustainabililty, Mia Fahey McCarthy, says the Galway Wind Park Scholarship is set to support hundreds of local students in the years ahead.
"From the outset at Galway Wind Park, we have aimed to make a positive and lasting impact for the local community, environmentally, socially and economically. We are looking forward to receiving applications when the fund opens in late August.
"This scholarship is an exciting opportunity for young people in the area and will have a very positive impact on enhancing sustainability into the future,” she says.
The Galway Wind Park Community Fund has an annual total of approximately €450,000 and includes a local fund for community groups, such as schools and sports clubs, and a major projects fund for larger-scale community projects. The new scholarship programme will account for 12.5 per cent of the overall community fund.
Paul O’Donnell of co-owners Greencoat Renewables, says the scholarship is one of a number of initiatives Galway Wind Park is undertaking that will contribute €450,000 to the local community in 2019.
He says Greencoat is committed to being a "good neighbour and supporting the local communities in which we operate".
To apply for the Galway Wind Park Scholarship visit ireland.sse.com/galwaywindpark Applicants must live within 20km of the Galway Wind Park and hold an unconditional offer of a place for entry into the academic year 2019/20 at GMIT, NUI Galway or another institution on the island of Ireland.
