The Scottish government today announced the award of over £10m to support nine large-scale low carbon local energy projects through the Local Energy Challenge Fund.
The projects include: two district heating schemes; a pilot smart energy control system in Orkney; support for a low head hydropower scheme in Galashiels; and developing a new fuel source from the agricultural sector in Montrose.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing (pictured) announced the successful projects at the annual Community and Renewable Energy Scheme Conference in Stirling.
The fund, which was launched in August 2014, aims to “demonstrate the value and benefit of local low carbon energy economies that link energy generation to energy use”.
Ewing said: “Community energy represents tremendous potential to empower people to make the most of their local resources.
“By creating a system that focuses on local energy we can help tackle some of our most pressing issues including fuel poverty, increasing costs and security of supply.
“Putting communities at the heart of decisions about their local energy system and empowering them to take an economic stake in new developments is central to our distinctive approach to Scotland’s energy future.”
Image: DECC
