Community consultation is often a requirement of the planning process. However, unveiling a project to the local community can be risky if engagement is not planned and carefully approached. MKO’s approach to community engagement ensures it is inclusive and informative and creates a platform for meaningful feedback that continues for the project. Our experience and influencing skills, enhanced by our digital capabilities, safeguard the successful delivery of essential projects.
Government policy
The Irish Government has committed to ensuring that by 2030 at least 80% of our electricity comes from renewable sources. To deliver on this commitment, communities across Ireland will facilitate the delivery of these essential renewable energy projects.
Well-thought-out project communication strategies are essential to ensure renewable energy projects are delivered with the community at its heart and deliver on the good practice principles set out in the Community Benefit Fund Good Practice Principles Handbook drafted by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Ireland’s ongoing energy crisis must deliver projects with minimum disruption. For this to happen, a two-way dialogue is essential between the developer and the receiving community.
MKO expertise
At MKO, our Project Communications team are experts in engaging with communities to bring them on a journey from inception to completion and beyond, so they feel part of this energy transformation movement. Active listening, community engagement, and traditional methods and cutting-edge technologies are at the heart of what MKO delivers on behalf of our clients and to the benefit of the host communities.
An integral part of delivering renewable energy projects is the Community Benefit Fund which enables communities to support sustainable initiatives in their local areas and decide for themselves what worthy local causes need support. These funds predominantly benefit rural areas, which ensures that those communities facilitating our transition to a greener energy system will receive the greatest benefit. MKO support all aspects of the development of renewable energy projects, and Project Communications is our newest specialisation.