Case Studies

Below are a selection of resources and case studies to give you useful information on CARES. Hover over an image for more information.

Glenurquhart Centre
A feasibility study, carried out in July 2019, aimed to determine the best energy system for Glenurquhart Centre. The study recommended that the building’s storage heaters and hot water immersion heaters be replaced with a new air source heat pump system, and that a heat recovery system could also be installed.

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Glenurquhart Centre
Solar Connected Communities: West Kilbride Community Association
The Feed-in Tariff scheme closed to new applicants in March 2019. Ofgem offered community organisations a 12-month extension through a simple pre-registration process. Local Energy Scotland supported WKCA to apply for pre-registration.

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Solar Connected Communities: West Kilbride Community Association
Foula Electricity Trust wind turbine upgrade
Foula Electricity Trust (FET), a volunteer-led charity, operates one of seven off-grid electricity systems in Scotland. FET applied for CARES funding to replace three wind turbine heads. This financial support has enabled FET to have three operational wind turbines producing energy for the island grid.

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Foula Electricity Trust wind turbine upgrade
St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
Heating this nineteenth century Gothic-style cathedral is challenging because of its size and current heating infrastructure. St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral applied to CARES for funding towards a feasibility study looking at possible renewable heating solutions.

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St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
The Aboyne and Mid-Deeside Community Shed
Aboyne and District Men’s Shed wanted to install a renewable heating system in the Aboyne and Mid-Deeside Community Shed, a new community building. It received funding and support from CARES to install four air source heat pumps.

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The Aboyne and Mid-Deeside Community Shed
Micro-grant schemes
This case study defines micro-grants and their intended purpose. It outlines some of the administrative and governance arrangements commonly used to operate a micro-grant scheme and looks at some the benefits of such schemes.

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Micro-grant schemes
EDF Renewables Burnhead Moss Education and Training Fund
This case study looks at arrangements for a community benefit fund benefiting the community council areas of Avonbridge and Standburn, and Limerigg and Slamannan in Falkirk, and Blackridge in West Lothian. The fund is administered by Foundation Scotland.

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EDF Renewables Burnhead Moss Education and Training Fund
E.ON Rosehall Community Fund & SSE Achany Community Fund
This case study looks at arrangements for two community benefit funds supporting activity in three communities in central Sutherland: Lairg, Criech, and Ardgay and District. The funds have provided a significant platform for community-led regeneration in an area that was at risk of economic and social decline.

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E.ON Rosehall Community Fund & SSE Achany Community Fund