Community and Renewable Energy Funding Available

Local Energy Scotland administers the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES). Local Energy Scotland provides free impartial advice and support for community groups, rural businesses, social enterprises and other stakeholders to advance local energy projects.

CARES supports projects that:

Accelerate the uptake of community and locally owned renewable energy, to meet Scotland’s 2020 1GW and 2030 2GW targets.

Support community involvement in local energy systems that lead to new installations of locally owned renewable energy generation.

Support shared ownership projects. Shared ownership is where a community group invests in a commercial renewable energy project.

Assist communities to maximise the impact from community benefit funds through community consultation, action planning and good governance.

CARES provides funding and the following help to develop a local energy project by offering:

Free, expert and impartial advice from the Local Development Officers.

Free online toolkits and project guides.

Mobilisation support for capital projects e.g. design review, costs and procurement support.

Ongoing support with project development and delivery.

Mentoring and community online discussion.

CARES encourages all communities across Scotland to consider how a green recovery could strengthen and build its resilience, support the local economy and the community’s wider social aims, and prepare for the future.

Applications for Enablement grants are accepted at any time.

There is a two-stage application process for Development and Capital funding.

The deadline for Expression of Interest for Development and Capital funding is 22 July 2020.

More information about this funding opportunity and the application process is available on the GRANTfinder funding information platform. GRANTfinder provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on funding news and policy. To find out more about how GRANTfinder can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.