Location: Granton, Edinburgh

Technology: Solar PV

CARES funding: £140,640

Background

Granton Project CIC is the organisation behind The Pitt that has grown into a large, multi-use community and enterprise hub in Granton, Edinburgh.

Originally established as a street food market on Pitt Street, the project evolved over several years before relocating to a much larger warehouse site as part of the wider regeneration of Granton, one of the most significant redevelopment areas in Scotland.

The move marked a major shift in ambition. Rather than simply hosting food traders, the organisation took on a much larger role as a curator of the site, supporting small businesses, social enterprises and community activity under one roof.

Today, the site is home to more than 30 independent businesses, including food traders, workshops, studios and community organisations, alongside a large events space. As Chief Executive Hal Prescott explained, the aim is to create “a melting pot for the community… the old community and the new community that’s going to come in as this regeneration project gets going”.

Project aims

After taking on the warehouse, the organisation faced the challenge of running a large, energy-intensive site while continuing to develop it in phases.

Reducing operating costs and improving long-term sustainability quickly became a priority. With a large, relatively flat roof, solar PV presented an obvious opportunity.

The project aimed to:

  • Cut electricity costs across a large, multi-use site
  • Improve the financial sustainability of the organisation and its tenants
  • Support ongoing development by reducing overheads
  • Demonstrate investment in the building to funders and partners

Solar PV was a natural fit. With a large warehouse roof and high energy demand, it offered an opportunity to generate significant renewable electricity on site, reduce operating costs and strengthen the project’s long-term financial sustainability.

Support from the Community Energy Generation Growth Fund enabled the organisation to take forward a project at a scale that would not otherwise have been possible, helping to bridge the gap between early development and the next major phase of the site.

Outcomes

The project delivered a large-scale solar PV installation of around 186 kW, comprising more than 350 panels installed on the roof by ERS Energy. With a total cost of approximately £174,300, CARES funding covered 80 per cent of the project, making it possible to go ahead.

Installation was completed in February 2026 and the impact has been immediate. Within the first weeks of operation, the system significantly reduced electricity costs.

Hal explained: “It’s basically cut our energy bill in half. I couldn’t believe it.”

This reduction in overheads is particularly important for a site that supports multiple small businesses and community organisations. Lower energy costs help improve the financial stability of the project as a whole, while also benefiting tenants.

The installation has also strengthened the organisation’s position when engaging with funders and stakeholders. Demonstrating investment in the building – and progress on sustainability – has helped build confidence in the wider project and its future phases.

Lessons learned

For the Granton Project, one of the key lessons was the importance of timing and being ready to act when funding became available. Solar PV had been discussed for some time, but it was only once the first phase of the project was complete that the team was able to move forward. When funding was secured, the delivery timeline was tight, requiring quick decisions and coordination with installers.

Despite this, the project was delivered at pace, reinforcing the value of having plans and quotes in place early.

Working with CARES was a positive experience throughout. Hal said: “As soon as you’re given someone to talk to, they get to know the project and that makes a big difference

“There’s a little bit of form filling, but I could check things and get a response quickly, which made it much easier.

“Without the funding, the project simply wouldn’t have happened at this point.”