Monday 18 August 2014

Bids invited for £20m renewable energy fund

Businesses, universities, local authorities, community groups and housing associations in Scotland are being invited to bid for a share of a multi-million pound energy fund.

They can apply for part of a £20 million fund to set up low carbon energy projects in their areas through the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) Local Energy Challenge Fund.

The Scottish Government hopes the projects contribute towards its target of getting 500MW of community and locally-owned renewables by 2020.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: “The new local energy challenge fund is an opportunity to build on Scotland’s outstanding strength in renewable and low carbon energy and to reshape how energy is delivered and used in communities throughout the country.

“By giving people a stake in heat and electricity generating technologies, we can address climate change through low carbon projects and also tackle fuel poverty.”

More than 285 MW of community and locally-owned renewable projects are currently in operation in Scotland.