Under the Community Energy Growth Fund, public bodies may be eligible for support where their involvement is essential to the development of a community-led energy project.

Support is available where a public body is working in partnership with a community organisation and the proposed activities will help achieve the objectives of the community project.

Public bodies cannot initiate an application independently. The support must first be requested by a community organisation.

Examples of eligible partnerships

Public Body Partnership Support may be appropriate where a public body plays a key role in a community energy project, for example by:

  • Providing access to land or buildings for renewable energy generation.
  • Making roof space available for a solar installation.
  • Supporting project development activities that enable the project to progress.
  • Purchasing or using electricity generated by a community energy project.
  • Working with a community organisation to explore opportunities for local energy generation and use.

The level of support available will depend on the specific activities being undertaken and their contribution to the community project.

Eligible costs

Eligible costs may include:

  • Officer and staff time directly related to project development.
  • Legal and professional fees.
  • Technical and feasibility support.
  • Other reasonable project development costs agreed by Local Energy Scotland.

Funding is only available where there is a clear partnership with a community energy organisation and will only support fair and reasonable costs directly associated with the project.

Funding available

The maximum grant available under this support strand is £50,000 per project.

Funding cannot be used to generate a profit or recover costs beyond those reasonably incurred in supporting the community energy project.

The funding must be spent and claimed by 17 March 2027.

Who can request support?

A community organisation should contact its Local Energy Scotland Development Officer to discuss any support required from a public body partner. This request should include:

  • Why the support is needed.
  • Details of the public body involved, including appropriate contact details.
  • The activities that will be undertaken.
  • Estimated costs.

A brief email is sufficient at this stage.

If Local Energy Scotland considers the proposal aligned with CARES objectives, the public body may be invited to submit an application for support.

Application process

Where invited to apply, the public body will be asked to submit an application through the CARES project portal. As public bodies are already subject to statutory governance and accountability arrangements, some standard organisational checks required for community organisations do not apply. Public bodies will therefore not normally be required to provide:

  • Governing documents
  • Bank statements (although payment details will be required if funding is approved)
  • Fair Work First declarations
  • Trustee or director identity information.

Before any funding offer is made, Local Energy Scotland must receive confirmation that the officer submitting the application is authorised to do so on behalf of the public body.

How applications are assessed

Applications will be assessed against the same core principles applied to other CARES funding applications, including:

  • Alignment with CARES objectives.
  • Deliverability of the proposed activities.
  • Value for money.
  • The benefits to the community energy project.

As part of the assessment process, Local Energy Scotland may consider information provided by both the public body and the community organisation. Applicants may also be asked to provide additional information to support the assessment.

We encourage applicants to allow sufficient time for assessment and any follow-up enquiries before the start date of activities.

Grant awards

Where an application is approved, a funding offer will be issued directly to the public body.

The funding offer must be accepted by an officer who is authorised to do so on behalf of the public body.

Funding is paid in line with CARES grant conditions and is normally claimed after eligible expenditure has been incurred and verified.

We cannot provide funding towards costs incurred before the grant offer is signed.

Summary of the process

  1. A community organisation identifies a need for support from a public body partner.
  2. The community organisation contacts Local Energy Scotland to discuss the proposed support.
  3. Local Energy Scotland reviews the request and, where appropriate, invites the public body to apply.
  4. The public body submits an application through the CARES funding portal.
  5. Local Energy Scotland confirms that the relevant officer has authority to submit and accept the application on behalf of the public body.
  6. The application is assessed against CARES funding criteria.
  7. If approved, a funding offer is issued directly to the public body.
  8. Funding is claimed and paid in accordance with CARES grant conditions, by 17 March 2027.