Community Energy Scotland

Stronger, more self reliant and resilient communities through energy generation and efficiency.

Community Energy Scotland is an independent charity that provides advice and financial support for renewable energy and conservation projects developed by community groups in Scotland. The renewable energy potential of their area of operation is considerable, with a large number of small communities which are pioneering community owned and led projects. 

Their stated objective: "We believe that communities can become stronger, more self reliant and resilient by generating their own energy and using it efficiently."

Many of these renewable energy projects are being undertaken by social enterprises such as development trusts. The charity works closely with its members to develop projects which bring most benefit to their local communities.

While there are a number of successful community renewable projects in Ireland, exisiting community support structures could be expanded and/or used as models for further community engagement in renewables by adopting the best practices examples of Scotland.

From the Comhar and Trinity College study Community Renewable Energy in 2011: "Initiative (SCHRI) was established in 2002 to provide grants, advice and project support to assist the development of new community and household renewable energy schemes in Scotland. An evaluation of the scheme found that 92 projects would not have proceeded without the funding, while the remaining 54 would have either been delayed, or been of a smaller scale or lower quality. It also found that community projects exhibit high levels of additionality; over one quarter of projects in the household stream would have taken place in any case, compared to none of the community projects (The Scottish Government, 2006). The community stream of SCHRI has been replaced by the Community and Renewable Energy Loan Scheme (CARES), which has assisted 105 projects over the last 2 years with an installed capacity of 53 MW".

Comhar and Trinity College, Community Renewable Energy In Ireland, 2011