Local energy systems

Information on developing innovative and integrated local energy systems.

The Scottish Government’s Scottish Energy Strategy sets out its vision for the future energy system in Scotland.

One of its core principles is to take a ‘whole-system’ view (considering heat, transport and electricity); and recognising the effect that each element of the energy system has on others.

CARES aims to develop innovative and integrated local energy systems to support this approach. CARES also supports renewable power projects and we have a small number of hydro, wind and solar projects that are being developed/constructed.

CARES funding and support is available for community buildings to install a range of technologies.

Funding and support is also available through the Let’s Do Net Zero: Off Electricity Grid Communities Fund. This funding aims to decarbonise and future-proof the existing local independent electrical grids of those communities that are not connected to the national electricity grid.

The Scottish Government’s Local Energy Challenge Fund (LECF), launched in August 2014, aimed to demonstrate the value and benefit of local low carbon energy economies. The LECF is now closed; the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) may be able to provide assistance.

What was the Local Energy Challenge Fund (LECF)?

The LECF supported large-scale low carbon demonstrator projects which showed a local energy economy approach linking energy generation to energy use. This included projects looking to develop innovative energy distribution and storage solutions with the overall aim of creating more local value and benefit.

The LECF operated over two phases:

the Development Project phase – the first phase of the LECF provided feasibility and development support for applicants developing project proposals.
the Capital Demonstration Project phase – the second phase of the LECF provided capital funding to deliver demonstrator projects.

Explore our case studies and resources to read more about some of the projects supported by this fund (use the filter function to search for Local Energy Challenge Fund projects).

The Infrastructure and Innovation Fund aimed to support whole system, renewable and low carbon, heat and electricity projects. It awarded support to more than 40 different projects across Scotland, from the central belt all the way to the Outer Hebrides.

Explore our case studies and resources to find out more about the projects supported by the fund.

Case Studies

Development of hydrogen projects in Scotland

Energy storage Locally Owned Solar PV

Comrie Croft solar PV and battery storage

Community Owned Hydro Islands Local Energy Systems

ACCESS: Assisting Communities to Connect to Electric Sustainable Sources

View all case studies

Developing Islay’s local energy system

The Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and Argyll and Bute Council are working to promote a collective approach to developing Islay’s local energy system. This work has been supported by Local Energy Scotland.

Resources

Innovative energy systems

An overview of four examples of innovative electricity projects funded under the Scottish Government’s Local Energy Challenge Fund (LECF), and the opportunities and lessons learned for future projects.

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Overcoming grid connection issues for community energy projects

A research paper from Cornwall Energy about overcoming grid connection issues for community energy projects.