Scottish and Southern Energy's newly proposed wind farm at Strathy North will be the first development to have 50 per cent of its community funding ring-fenced for pan-Highland benefit.
However, the cross-Highland proportion will be achieved by an extra injection of cash by SSE.
The additional bonus was announced on Wednesday by SSE, who gave details of a new Scotland Sustainable Energy Fund that could be worth more than £90 million over 25 years if it is able to realise its ambitions for new on-shore wind farms in Scotland.
The fund will be available for organisations promoting skills development, community energy schemes and improving the built and natural environment.
SSE's current policy for awarding community funds is based on the installed capacity of its onshore wind farms under construction or in operation, and is worth up to £2500 per annum for each megawatt of generation capacity.
The commitment announced today will increase the value of SSE's investment to the equivalent of £5000 per megawatt for all new onshore wind farms constructed in Scotland from 1 January.
This will comprise £2500 per mw for local community initiatives (as presently being offered for the Strathy North Wind Farm), and now also £2500 per mw for the new Scotland Sustainable Energy Fund to support community projects across the Highland region.
The 76mw Strathy Wind Farm, which was recently consented by Scottish Ministers, will be the first to benefit from the additional funding, providing a total lifetime (25 years) fund value of £9.5 million.
Announcing the new fund, SSE Chief Executive Ian Marchant said: "We have, for a number of years, established local funds as our way of saying thank you to the communities that host our wind farms.
"The time has come where we want to do even more to ensure more specific benefits from our renewable energy programme are delivered to the people and economy of Scotland.
"We want to commit additional funds worth £90 million to provide long-term support for strategic projects in the regions in which we are investing and in the areas of most need, and which we believe have the potential to make a significant and sustainable difference to the people of Scotland.
"We're also committed to continuing to set aside sizeable sums for communities local to our wind farms, for existing and new sites. It is for these communities to decide what's important to them and to support projects which are best for their area. It might be job creation, keeping the local shop open or improving community transport."
An SSE spokesperson told the NT: "The extra funding intended for pan-Highland support will be administered internally by SSE.
"It does not prevent an area like Strathy applying to it for money for projects within the criteria outlined, even though they also have their own community benefit."
East Sutherland communities were in uproar in June last year when the Highland Council suggested a percentage of benefit accrued from various windfarms in the area should be set aside for pan-Highland distribution. The idea was rejected by community councillors.
