Community groups that want to install renewable energy projects and decarbonise their buildings will be able to access additional Scottish Government support this year.
Funding is being increased to £15 million through the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) to help organisations build their own onshore solar, wind and heat pumps.
First Minister, John Swinney, said: “We are moving beyond the idea of communities as passive hosts of energy infrastructure.
“Our approach supports them to become active partners by helping them to invest in, own and benefit from the clean energy future.”
The programme, designed to reduce energy bills, has already delivered more than £83 million to communities across Scotland, supporting more than 1,200 projects and 75MW of renewable capacity.
CARES has supported organisations like the Scalpay Community Centre in the Western Isles, which received funding to install a heat pump, solar pv and battery storage.
