We had a great time at the CARES Conference 2025: Scaling up community energy, and we hope you did too. If you’d like to review the presentations, here are a selection from the day:
Introduction
Sharing community stories
- Caroline Ferguson, RUTS.
- Lesley Hinds, Edinburgh Community Solar Co-op.
- Allan Wilson, Radio City.
- Jim Lee, Dundee Renewable Energy Society
- Gillon Dobie, Abbey St Bathans village hall.
- Sue Hollands, Eigg Electric.
- Janet Moxley, Biggar Youth Project.
Just transition and community energy
- Virginia Toyi, CEMVO Scotland: Minority ethnic communities’ participation in environmental projects.
- Fraser Stewart, Regen: Leveraging local and community energy for a just transition in Scotland.
- Joe Smee, Glasgow Community Energy: An inclusive approach to community energy projects.
- Chris Mackie, Scottish Government: Introducing the 2025/26 Community Energy Generation Growth Fund.
Workshop 1 – Community energy generation case studies and funding
- Allan Wilson, Radio City: Kilbirnie Wild Turbine.
- Jim Lee, Dundee Renewables Energy Society Bullionfield Solar Meadow.
- Morven Lyon, Democratic Finance Scotland: Community shares.
- Graham Ayling, Energy Saving Trust: Ofgem Redress Fund.
- Graham Watson, Scottish National Investment Bank.
Workshop 2 – What role can communities play to accelerate decarbonising heat?
- Ben Whittle, Sharenergy – Community Heat Development Unit.
- Martin Hayman, East Lothian Council – LHEES.
- Oisín De Priall and Neil Harrison, Reheat – community heat development programme.
Workshop 3 – Maximising community benefits for Scottish communities
- Lesley McNeil, Muirhall: How are developers planning for this scaled-up level of funding?
- Stephen McCarron, 9CCG: How are communities planning for this scaled-up level of funding?
- Jillian Violaris, SPEN: What community benefits are planned from transmission infrastructure.
- Laura Campbell, Local Energy Scotland: How we can use the Register of Community Benefits and Shared Ownership.
- Francesca Vacca, Scottish Government: Scottish Government consultation on community benefits.
Workshop 4 – How can GBE Local help to support the growth of community energy?
- Simon Calverley, UK Government.
- Emma Shepherd, Scottish Government.
- Chris Morris, Local Energy Scotland.
- Zoe Holliday, Community Energy Scotland.
Workshop 5 – How do communities take a share in the growth of commercial scale renewables?
- Christina Hinds, Local Energy Scotland: Addressing the challenges of shared ownership – (shared ownership resources).
- Morven Lyon, Democratic Finance Scotland: Can community shares or bonds provide the low-cost finance required to deliver community shared ownership at scale?
- Fiona Gillespie, Rathbones.
- Andrew Wilkinson, QMPF.
Workshop 6 – Lessons from low carbon community and faith buildings
- Ruth Dickinson and Gemma Murray, Local Energy Scotland.
- Caroline Fergusson, Rural and Urban Training Scheme (RUTS).
- Janet Moxley, Biggar Youth Project.
- Gillon Dobie, Abbey St Bathans village hall.