Funding for off electricity grid communities

The Let’s Do Net Zero: Off Electricity Grid Communities Fund aims to decarbonise and future-proof the existing local independent electrical grids of those communities that are not connected to the national electricity grid. CARES funding available through this call is to develop and deliver specific capital projects.

Development funding (up to £25,000 per project)

Development funding can be used for the following:

• Feasibility studies, design and consenting work, and project management support, required to enable you to take forward a capital project.
• Funding to applicants to provide client coordination support may be available but will be limited, rates will be reviewed, and the scope will require clear justification.
• During development consideration should be given to ongoing operation and maintenance strategy and how to plan for sufficient revenue for this.
• To support decarbonisation plans for heat, however funding through this call isn’t available for local energy plans and area-wide strategies. If you don’t have a strategy developed or a planned project you should contact Local Energy Scotland to consider other support that might be available.

Capital funding

Capital funding can be used for the following:

• To develop zero carbon heat projects.
• To upgrade energy infrastructure, add controls and monitoring, and build resilience into existing local independent grids.
• To add energy storage and/or renewable energy generation to local independent grids to work towards greater decarbonisation of heat and transport through electrification.
• To add project management, through professional support, to provide the required capacity and expertise associated with all stages of the capital build process. This service can also be used to support projects meetings, act as a secretariat and coordinator, managing actions of all parties. Frameworks of projects managers are available through CARES.
• Funding to applicants to provide client coordination support may be available but will be limited, rates will be reviewed, and the scope will require clear justification.
• To secure profession advice including land agreements, legal fees and financial work.

How to apply

There is no specific deadline for full applications for this funding call. However, to provide an indication of likely budget requirements please complete and submit the expression of interest by 31 January 2022.

Online information events are being held on Wednesday 12 January and Thursday 13 January 2022. To register to attend or for more information on the fund, please email info@localenergy.scot