Grant funding and support

Community Energy Scotland can provide your community with support, advice and, in some cases, funding for renewable energy projects through the following routes:

CARES (Community and Renewable Energy Scheme)
CARES stands for Community and Renewable Energy Scheme and is the Scottish Government's rebranding of the previous SCHRI programme. Community Energy Scotland won the contract to deliver CARES across the whole of Scotland for three years from May 2009. CARES continues the support available for communities under the previous Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI) and builds on this by increasing the maximum grant levels by 50%. Grants of up to £150K are now available. Read more on our CARES webpage.

Income-generating projects

As well as funding microgeneration and efficiency projects, Community Energy Scotland also provides funding and technical support to those communities who are developing income-generating projects eg. small community windfarms or hydro schemes.  Grants are also available from Community Energy Scotland for community groups to enable them to become constituted and to obtain technical expertise on the best options and locations for their community energy projects.

Big Lottery Scotland

Through Big Lottery Scotland's Growing Community Assets scheme, Community Energy Scotland is also able to offer advice and support communities to bring real and lasting legacies to their local communities through developing sustainable energy projects.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Under Phase 2 of BERR's Low Carbon Buildings Programme, grants for the installation of microgeneration technologies are available to public sector buildings (including schools, hospitals, housing associations and local authorities) and charitable bodies. Community Energy Scotland , in conjunction with the Energy Savings Trust, has launched a programme to increase the uptake of sustainable energy measures in schools throughout Scotland.  (For more information please contact Brid McKibben, Community Energy Scotland's schools renewables development officer on 01349 860130.)
 

Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme

The Scottish Government  launched the Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme in December 2008. The scheme is Scotland-wide, with funding of £2 million from April 2009 to March 2011. The Scheme will provide grants for installation of biomass heating systems in small-medium scale enterprises (SMEs). The Scottish Government is also keen to encourage the development of district heating, and would particularly welcome applications for district heating demonstrators from private developers. Application forms are available to download from                                      www.usewoodfuel.co.uk and                        http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/19185/20805/BioSupport                                                                 or you can obtain copies by or you can obtain contacting  biomass.scotland@forestry.gsi.gov.uk, Tel: 01349 860919. The deadline for submissions of funding application is 27th February 2009.