Get a grant

SCHRI offers grants to a range of community organisations to help with the installation of a variety of renewable energy technologies. In this section you can find out what kind of grants are on offer, what kind of communities can apply for them and the technologies eligible for funding. You can also read about the funding criteria your application will be assessed against.

Communities may apply for funding for technical assistance and capital grants for renewable energy equipment installation and associated costs.

Under SCHRI there is no set grant funding. The amount of funding awarded is determined on a case by case basis with the average grant being in the region of 50 per cent. Projects with exceptional demonstration value or groups with limited resources may be eligible for a higher percentage of funding. All applicants are required to outline contributions from other funding sources and those with substantial investment from other sources will be regarded highly.

Technical grants

Technical assistance funding is available to support non-capital projects, such as feasibility or scoping studies and capacity building within a community. The maximum grant is £10,000.

Funding is available to:

• pay for part or all of the costs associated with feasibility studies or community consultation
• provide support for an organisation's staff to develop a proposal
• pay for capacity building (renewable energy awareness raising, training and skills development)

Capital grants

Capital grants contribute to the capital costs of a project. The maximum grant is £100,000.

Funding is available for:

• the capital costs of installing renewable energy generation plant
• capital costs for supporting infrastructure, such as roads
• project management costs associated with the development and installation of generating equipment
• the costs of the community establishing a partnership with a third party such as a developer, or setting up a new company or purchasing an equity share in an existing company
• the costs of implementing regulatory or fiscal regulations designed to encourage renewable energy generation or use; these may include metering equipment, licences or costs of accessing Renewable Obligation Certificates.

What kind of community can apply?

The basic premise is that applicants must be Scotland based, legally constituted, non-profit distributing community groups.

Such organisations may include, but are not restricted to:

• local/national voluntary, non-profit and charitable organisations
• local rural partnerships
• local authorities
• housing associations
• local enterprise companies
• companies limited by guarantee
• Universities and schools

Consortia of non-profit distributing organisations are acceptable. Bids in which private industrial or commercial organisations collaborate as part of consortium bids with non-profit distributing bodies will also be accepted, provided that the private organisation is not the lead applicant / beneficiary and the project itself is non-profit distributing.

If you are unsure about whether or not your organisation meets the criteria, you should contact your local SCHRI Development Officer to discuss your particular situation. Follow this link to find your local SCHRI Development Officer.

Technologies eligible for funding

Technologies that are eligible for funding under SCHRI include, but are not limited to:

• hydro-electric
• wind
• solar water heating
• solar space heating
• heat pumps (ground, air and water source)
• automated wood fuel heating systems

The scheme will not fund

• PV (photovoltaic) installations. Grants for both off grid and grid connected PV are available in the UK through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme
• Non-automated wood burning stoves. This is a mature technology with a well-established market which does not require pump-priming support

Renewable energy technologies can generate energy in the form of electricity and/or heat - both types of technologies are acceptable. The overriding requirement is that the project must result in a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, relative to alternative sources of power.

Assessment criteria

Applications for funding under Technical Assistance and Capital Grants are assessed against essential and desirable criteria. Larger capital projects may also be subject to independent technical assessment, prior to grant being offered.

Essential criteria

• All projects must be located in Scotland.
• The project must entail the generation of energy from renewable means.
• The project must involve an assessment of measures to improve energy efficiency
• Projects relating to direct community ownership on behalf of the local community must demonstrate community benefit, involvement and a good level of local support for the project.
• Capital projects must be technically viable and capable of producing renewable energy within 2 years of funding being granted. Technical Assistance applications must be completed within 1 year.
• Applicants must allow publication of grant assisted work and reasonable access to those seeking to replicate the project.
• The project must meet all general legal, statutory and regulatory requirements.
• There must be a satisfactory maintenance and management plan for the project once installed.
• Applicants must demonstrate that the project entails the most cost-effective and appropriate means of meeting a given requirement for renewable energy.
• There must be an established and viable structure for the on-going management of the project.

Desirable criteria

• Potential for replication elsewhere.
• Additional sources of funding
• High reduction of carbon emissions when compared to the cost per tonne of achieving that reduction in carbon emissions as a result of the project.
• A clear plan of action to maximise the project's educational potential, i.e. potential to raise awareness of renewable energy in general and /or the particular technology used.