CARES enablement grant funding of up to £25,000 is available to fund non-capital aspects of a project. Funding can help with start-up costs of feasibility studies, community consultations and other preparatory costs.
For example, you may wish to look at what is feasible in your area, learn about projects other groups have undertaken, or develop a plan for a community benefit income stream from a local renewable energy project. These should be early-stage activities, without which a renewable energy installation wouldn’t be able to go ahead or, in the case of community benefits and shared ownership, there must be a renewable installation being planned in association with the enablement grant request.
Enablement grant funding can be applied for and awarded at any time – you don’t need to wait for a panel meeting.
CARES Priorities
CARES supports projects that:
- 1. Accelerate the uptake of community and locally owned renewable energy, to meet Scotland’s 2030 2GW ambition.
- 2. Support community involvement in local energy systems that lead to new installations of locally-owned renewable energy generation.
- 3. Support shared ownership projects. Shared ownership is where a community group invests in a commercial renewable energy project.
- 4. Assist communities to maximise the impact from community benefit funds through community consultation, action planning and good governance.
Local ownership and/or community involvement must be at the heart of the projects developed through CARES.
Energy efficiency must be part of any proposal and must consider all aspects of energy in the given situation. As examples; developing a new model to generate renewable heat must also consider the purpose or process the heat is used for; developing storage solutions must consider the round trip efficiency; product efficiency (where applicable) should be compared to alternative and existing products.
Eligibility
Local ownership and/or community involvement must be at the heart of projects that CARES supports.
Eligible applicants include constituted community groups, charities, faith groups, academic institutions, local authorities, housing associations and small to medium sized rural businesses.
Application Steps
At the first stage, we will assess how your project fits with CARES priorities and its potential impact and viability. We will assess your project proposal for readiness to progress to the next stage. We encourage you to submit an expression of interest as soon as possible so
that we can give you feedback to develop your idea further.
At this stage our recommended next steps may include:
• Going straight to stage 2 to apply, if your proposal is well progressed.
• Applying for a fast-track grant for a small amount of funding/ support to take you to the next step of having a firm project proposal that will progress to stage 2.
• Taking more time to develop your project idea further. A CARES enablement grant or more direct help from your Local Development officer may be a better option.
• Signposting your project to a different fund which might be better suited.
Please send your completed expression of interest form to info@localenergy.scot and copy it to your Local Development Officer. You may wish to discuss this with them before submitting it.
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