Community Partnerships

As part of our commitment to the local community, TotalEnergies will establish a Community Benefit Fund and a Community Liaison Group to ensure the Castle Hills Solar Farm scheme delivers value beyond clean, green energy. The initiatives will support local priorities, encourage transparent communication and open opportunities for residents to shape and benefit the project throughout its operational life.

Community Benefit Fund

A Community Benefit Fund will be established and support the local community and initiatives through voluntary financial contributions made by TotalEnergies. This is designed to provide long term and reliable funding to enhance the local area, economy, society and environment.

The fund will be open to proposals from the local community and will prioritise projects that deliver:

  • Climate and environmental improvements
  • Youth inclusion and education
  • Road safety
  • Cultural dialogue and heritage

The Community Benefit Fund reflects our broader goals to contribute to social and environmental prosperity and invest in opportunities to develop local skills and benefit future generations. Although the fund will have priority themes, the Community Liaison Group will have discretion to support other community led initiatives if a clear need can be demonstrated.

The Castle Hills Solar Farm Community Benefit Fund will provide a fixed annual contribution of £40,000, indexed to inflation. This contribution is not based on a £/MW formula but represents a firm commitment to supporting the local area throughout the project’s operation.

Community Liaison Group

We will set up a Community Liaison Group, which is an integral part of how we will engage with the local community and serves as a forum for open and transparent communication between TotalEnergies, local residents and other stakeholders.

The Community Liaison Group is responsible for:

  • Facilitating dialogue and updates on project progress
  • Addressing community concerns
  • Managing the Community Benefit Fund


The Community Liaison Group will be made up of representatives from TotalEnergies, local stakeholders and neighbouring communities. Over time the membership of the group could evolve, such as when the site transitions from construction to operation, at which point it may focus more closely on those communities directly affected by day-to-day site activities.

The Community Liaison Group will also hold responsibility for agreeing:

  • The defined purpose of the Community Benefit Fund in response to local priorities
  • The schedule for fund deployment and size/frequency of payments
  • Eligibility and evaluation criteria for fund beneficiaries
  • Reporting requirements for recipients
  • Dispute resolution processes
  • Overall administrative mechanisms for the fund


As the scheme progresses, the Community Liaison Group is expected to transition into a Community Interest Company (CIC), providing a formal structure to administer the fund and maximise its community value. The fund’s operation will begin once construction starts on Castle Hills Solar Farm.