Community benefits from net zero energy developments consultation: engagement findings report
Report by the Scottish Community Development Centre, commissioned by the Scottish Government, on findings from community engagement undertaken as part of our consultation on Community Benefits from Net Zero Energy Developments.
Appendix 1
Information Webinar Programme: Consultation on the Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Renewable Energy
6pm Welcome and introductions
6.05pm An introduction to community benefits
6.15pm Scottish Government: The review of the Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Renewable Energy – what the good practice principles are, why we're reviewing them, and what the consultation involves.
6.30pm Scottish Community Development Centre: Community conversations Where the conversations will take place and what they'll look like, the timeframe for them, and how people can get involved.
6.45pm Any questions?
7.05pm Mentimeter session - where we’ll pose a few questions to get your views. This will help shape the community conversation sessions.
7.15pm Next steps and thanks
Information Webinar Recruitment
To encourage attendance at the webinars, a master key contact list was created which included both national and local organisations, and direct contact was made initially via e-mail from SCDC. This list was created using existing contacts from SCDC and the Scottish Government plus information gathered through desk-based research.
In addition to direct mail, information was also cascaded through known national networks and online publications including the SCDC Weekly and Snippets bulletins.
A further breakdown of promotional figures is provided for information below.
| Source | Contact Numbers |
|---|---|
| National Networks and Membership Organisations | 34 |
| Stornoway and surrounding | 53 |
| Peterhead and surrounding | 28 |
| Nithsdale and surrounding | 36 |
| Barrhill and surrounding | 22 |
| Wick and surrounding | 55 |
| East Lothian and Berwickshire | 81 |
| Islands | 303 |
| Easter Ross and Cromarty | 189 |
| Clydesdale and surrounding | 46 |
| SCDC Weekly publication | 2,000 |
| SCDC Snippets publication | 1,400 |
| SCDC social media followers | 3,000 |
| Total | 4,547 |
The contact methods/audiences above resulted in 189 individuals registering for webinar sessions with 114 going on to attend. Webinars were held on the 19th and 20th February 2025.
SCDC followed up with all webinar participants, supplying them with:
- A copy of SCDC and Scottish Government presentations
- Confirmation of sites and dates for local conversations
- Links to online consultation documents and a response form
- Introductory explainer to community benefits
- Links to maps within the Scottish Government’s presentation showing offshore and onshore renewable energy developments
- A link to Local Energy Scotland’s overview of community energy and benefits projects.