THE NEXT funding round of the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewables Energy Scheme (CARES), is now open for applications until Friday 31 January 2020.
CARES funding, managed by Local Energy Scotland, offers specialist support and bespoke funding packages to communities, rural businesses and public sector organisations looking to install renewable energy generation or to get local energy projects up and running.
Tailored funding packages are available, including:
- Development Loans to support renewable energy projects in the development phase that have a reasonable chance of success. These loans can include a write-off facility that allows development risk to be mitigated.
- Innovation grants to either fund local energy system innovation activity or improve the viability of projects by grant funding elements of the project. Grants can also be used to support the replication of CARES innovation projects that have worked well.
Enablement grants are also available to help get projects started and can be used to fund options appraisal or a feasibility study – these can be applied for at any time.
CARES funding has already supported a number of exciting projects including the Canna Renewable Energy and Electrification project, allowing the island’s 18 residents to switch from diesel generators to green energy; and Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative who worked in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council to install community-owned solar panels on 24 schools and leisure centres throughout the city.
You’ll find all the application documents and eligibility criteria here.
Local Development Officers are on hand to offer practical support and can guide applicants through each step of the process, from idea through to delivery. We can chat through your proposal, help you plan your project, put you in touch with potential partners, and give you the funding to make it a reality.
Please note that applications for this round will provide a pipeline of projects for delivery in 2020/21.
The CARES panel will assess the applications, but confirmation of funding will not be provided (and projects will not be able to progress) until the Scottish Government provides confirmation of the 2020/21 CARES budget.
Applications for this funding round close on Friday 31 January 2020.
