Community Energy Policy

We work closely with the UK and Scottish Governments, and with organisations such as SEPA, SNH and Scottish Renewables to advise on the challenges and issues groups are facing, and to find ways to overcome difficulties.

Working for the sector

As well as the direct advice and support Community Energy Scotland offers to community projects, we are always working hard behind the scenes ensuring the right policies and incentives are in place to allow community energy to flourish.

Achievements

Since the launch of Community Energy Scotland in 2008, we have been involved in supporting over 1400 projects across Scotland. The sector has seen a huge growth so far, and Community Energy Scotland has experience in a diverse range of projects, as shown below: 

  • Hundreds of micro-generation projects in community buildings and social housing.

  •  6.88 MW of wholly community-owned wind projects installed 

  • 100% planning consent success rate for community wind and hydro schemes – around twice the rate of commercial projects

  • We are working with over 150 groups on large-scale revenue generating projects, totalling over 180MW of potential renewable capacity

  • Community Energy Scotland has distributed over £15.5m of funding towards community energy projects since 2009

For our recent progress, please look at our recent consultation responses below, read our Latest News or have a look at the range of projects in our Project Database.

Consultations

In recent years, Community Energy Scotland have responded to many consultations on a broad range of issues. Recently, we have represented the views of the sector and our members on the following issues, amongst others:

  • Ofgem – NINES (Northern Isles New Energy Strategy)
  • DECC – Possible Models for Capacity Mechanism
  • Ofgem – Second Renewable Heat Incentive consultation
  • DECC – Smart Metering
  • UK Treasury – Enterprise Investment Scheme changes for FiT-registered generators
  • Scottish Government – Non-domestic Permitted Development for Microgeneration
  • DECC – Feed-in Tariff consultation
  • DECC – Connect and Manage consultation

 

We have also been working closely with DECC and Ofgem to try to resolve many of the state aid difficulties for communities around the Feed-in Tariff.

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