The Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) –which is funded by the Scottish Government – is holding its annual conference in Stirling today and tomorrow (Wed).
Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing is expected to announce the winners of recent challenge fund bids for Scottish Government innovation and development projects.
The conference will also hear from real community success stories, like the Harlaw and Callander community hydro schemes, and the Point and Sandwick Windfarm, currently under construction which will see another nine megawatts of windpower in community ownership contributing to Scotland’s renewable energy future.
Nicholas Gubbins, who heads up national charity Community Energy Scotland, commented: “ We are looking forward today to learning which projects are getting the backing they need to put Scottish communities in the forefront of the next stage of local energy economy projects.’
‘Community energy in Scotland covers a very wide spectrum. Communities hold investments in commercial hydro and wind projects, whilst others own their own renewable energy generation plant. Community shares have really taken off, with an increasing number of Community benefit cooperatives raising many hundreds of thousands of pounds to make sure that clean green generation goes ahead in their communities.
“Community-led projects are pushing the boundaries with new storage and conversion technologies and innovative ways to match local generation and local demand.
‘The Scottish Government’s continuing backing for community energy projects will ensure that Scotland makes the changes it needs to have a bright local renewable energy future, with all the social, economic and environmental benefits which community energy projects deliver.’
Pixie Energy is an incubator and a facilitator of strategic research and project work, focusing on energy regulation, policy and markets at the local and national level. Find out more about Pixie Energy