Join us for our next CARES conference, which will take place at the University of Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre on Wednesday 10 December 2025 from 10am to 5pm.
The Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) supports communities to engage, participate and benefit in the energy transition to net zero.
This conference is for your community organisation and will showcase the support available for you on your community energy journey. It will be full of inspiring stories and practical advice to help you progress your ideas towards impact.
Whether your community organisation is taking its first exploratory step, is wanting to build on the success of a current project, or is planning for succession, the conference will have something to offer you.
In our plenary sessions you’ll hear from communities that we’ve been working with to deliver renewable energy projects over the last year. They’ll be giving updates on the progress of their projects, sharing the challenges faced and the valuable insights gained during their journeys.
We’ll also be joined by speakers from pioneering community groups that have had their projects up and running for several years. They’ll be talking about the impact their projects have had and what advice they would offer communities that are developing and delivering projects now.
We’ll then break for a networking lunch, where you can meet funders, key stakeholders and the Local Energy Scotland team.
After a networking lunch, we are running two blocks of afternoon sessions that will cover topics such as, ‘Getting started with community energy’, ‘Maintaining momentum – retaining skills and succession planning’ and ‘Navigating ethical project delivery’. The sessions are designed so that each block has something to offer your community, regardless of the stage you’re at in your community energy journey.
In the afternoon, Gillian Martin MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy will join us to deliver a keynote address.
The day will end with our ‘Idea to impact’ panel discussion, which will draw together the key themes from the day and consider how your community organisation can take its project from initial idea through to delivering impact.
Throughout the day, you’ll be able to meet Local Energy Scotland’s local development officers. You’ll be able to find out more about CARES and be able to ask specific questions about existing renewable energy projects or ideas you may have.
Please see below for our agenda and keep an eye out for exciting updates.
Location
University of Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre, 99 George Street, Glasgow G1 1RD.
The Technology and Innovation Centre is close to major public transport hubs, and you can work out your route on their website.
How to book
You can book your conference ticket and preferred workshops at our ticket shop. There are a limited number of tickets available, so we’d encourage anyone who wants to attend to book as soon as possible.
Free tickets
The conference is free to attend and is primarily for communities with an interest in renewable energy.
Please do not book multiple spaces if you are not from a community organisation. Community groups will be prioritised, and ticketing is limited to 2 tickets per organisation.
Agenda
9.30am – 10.00am – Arrival and registration
Refreshments will be available on arrival.
Please note that the following times for the morning session are approximate and are subject to change.
10.05am – 10.20 am – Welcome and introduction to CARES – Chris Morris
- Speaker: Chris Morris, Local Energy Scotland
10.20am – 11.20am – Sharing community stories
Be inspired by communities that we’ve been working with over the last year to deliver renewable energy projects. Our speakers will give short updates about their projects, sharing their challenges and insights.
11.20am – 12.00pm – Community energy pioneers
Community energy projects have created positive impacts for communities. We’ll hear from pioneering communities with projects that have been up and running for several years. What have they achieved, what impact have they had, and what advice would they give to communities developing and delivering projects now?
12pm – 1pm – Networking lunch
Over lunch you can meet funders and key stakeholders and the Local Energy Scotland team to talk about your projects.
1pm – 2.35pm – Afternoon sessions
We will run two blocks of four in parallel. Please choose one session, from each block to be booked in advance.
1pm – 1.45pm – Afternoon session block 1
Session 1 – Getting started with community energy
If you’re new to community energy, this is the place to start. You’ll learn about the support available through the new CARES Community Energy Launchpad and Development Fund to get your project going. We’ll also help you to think about how to get the most out of early exploratory work such as options appraisals.
Session 2 – Maintaining momentum – retaining skills and succession planning
In this session we’ll explore how to bring the community on board with your project to maintain momentum, retain skills and plan for succession.
Secure the future of your project by building resilience into your board – widening participation, retaining experience, and refreshing skills.
Session 3 – Current trends and what’s next for community energy
This forward-looking session will explore what’s next for community energy. Our panel will discuss the new models that are developing in the community energy sector and what opportunities these bring for communities in Scotland.
We’ll hear from experts about the types of community energy projects that are working now and their thoughts on future opportunities.
Session 4 – Navigating ethical project delivery
Many communities are concerned about the impact they have both locally, and globally. Understanding ethical supply chains can be challenging. This session will look at the steps that you can take when purchasing renewable energy equipment and how to maximise the use of local suppliers. We’ll also look at some practical steps you can take to demonstrate your project upholds the CARES equalities charter.
1.50pm – 2.35pm – Afternoon session block 2
Session 5 – Delivering solar partnerships – how communities and the public sector can work together.
Learn about how community and local authority partnerships work in practice to deliver win-win solar projects. This session will delve in to the partnerships, roles and responsibilities that have made this a successful model.
Session 6 – Repowering wind farms – an opportunity for communities
Forestry and Land Scotland are piloting an opportunity for community organisations to develop renewable energy projects on public land when sites come up for repowering. You’ll find out more about this opportunity and the support that’s available to go through the process.
Session 7 – Developing, delivering, and maintaining a sustainable community or faith building
This session will help you plan out your project to decarbonise your community or faith building. From top tips to writing your application through to maintaining your heat pumps, PV and batteries and to get the most out of your new system and maximise your income.
Session 8 – Community engagement for shared ownership
Good community engagement is key to community shared ownership projects. Listening to concerns and communicating in an open and honest way can help to navigate challenges and bring the community with you. Our session will bring together those that have been through the process to share learning.
2.40pm – 3.10pm – Networking break
Refreshments and visit stalls
3.15pm – 3.30pm – Keynote address
Gillian Martin MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy
3.30pm – 4:30 pm – Idea to impact
We’ll finish the day with a panel discussion that draws together the key themes from the day and considers how you can take your project from initial idea through to delivering impact.
4.30pm to 4.45pm – Closing remarks
(Agenda provided subject to change)