Community and Renewable Energy - 02/02/2010

The Scottish Government launched the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) in April 2009, with £8m allocated for the first year. Hundreds of communities throughout Scotland have taken advantage of these resources to make the switch to renewable sources of heat and power, saving thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. The scheme has been a great success so far and communities have been awarded grants towards installing renewable energy systems such as solar panels, wind turbines, wood-fired boilers and heat pumps, in addition to improving their energy efficiency. 

Community Energy Scotland, the independent charity which runs the CARES scheme for the Scottish Government along with a separate scheme funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, is reporting that over 600 community renewable energy projects are currently being developed across Scotland, from Galloway to North Yell in Shetland.

CARES provides funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in community facilities. Hundreds of community centres are now benefitting from the scheme, which in turn means warmer, more useable and ‘lower carbon’ facilities for community groups across Scotland.

Lister Housing Co-operative installed solar water heating into tenement flats in central Edinburgh, reducing tenants’ bills for hot water. Alistair Cant, director of the Co-operative said: “The beauty of these systems is that once fitted, they will go on generating year on year with minimal maintenance. CARES funding has helped greatly to make this happen and taking our tenants out of fuel poverty is a real priority for us.”

Jim Mather MSP, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism is delighted with the progress under the scheme. He said: “The CARES scheme is unlocking real interest in Scottish communities who can see the potential for improving their facilities. Once people get going on a project, they typically then look for further opportunities to benefit their communities. The Scottish Government raised its game by upping the funding for renewables with CARES significantly and I am delighted to see communities are putting it to good use.

“Proposals are now coming forward from community groups for larger projects designed to bring in cash for community regeneration from the sale of renewable energy. I believe this trend will bring real local impact in ways that will benefit all in the community as we move to a low carbon future.”

For more information on CARES, visit the Community Energy Scotland website at the following link:

Website: www.communityenergyscotland.org.uk