Community Energy Scotland helps our members’ communities participate in and promote understanding of the equitable benefits of the energy system, by supporting project development through capacity building and technical advice.
Community Energy Scotland is a member-led, independent organisation providing practical & technical support for community project development. We work in partnership with community groups and others who share our values, building their understanding and capacity to create more democratic, sustainable and low carbon solutions.
By enabling our members to link up and network with each other, we also create insightful opportunities within the community energy sector. And as the collective voice of community groups looking to develop and maintain low carbon solutions, we represent our members at government and regulatory levels.
We can help. Free technical support for community groups. Focus is on small, specific questions about Solar • Heat Pumps • Retrofit • Funding • Energy Efficiency…and more.
Closes 30 June 2026 – Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) supports community organisations to develop their own renewable energy projects.
The Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) has re-opened until October 2026. Grants to help community organisations reduce their building’s energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
We are part of the Energy Learning Network, a UK-wide support programme powering forward community energy projects helping more groups launch or grow schemes that decarbonise the grid, create local resilience, help reduce energy bills, and create meaningful benefits for local people. Funded by The National Lottery.
We help communities maximise local engagement and create solutions for the best possible outcomes. We also cultivate networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities, whilst working in the background promoting the community energy voice which is backed by evidence from our members.
Discover opportunities to help support your community energy and decarbonisation plans. Receive regular updates on our work with members in our member bulletins and stay in touch with the wider community energy network through our interconnections.
Access to the Members’ Bulletin
Partnerships supporting your projects & innovations
Our strong voice representing yours
Discounted access to CES conferences & selected events
Without CES support, our project would not have gone ahead. CES’ development officer role was vital in steering our ideas and driving them through to reality. His professional approach and knowledge was impressive, as was his wider appreciation of pressures on community groups and the pressures we were under at a very basic level of running a charitable organisation. I don’t think we would have managed without CES’ direct support.
Stuart MacQuarrie
Hilton Light House
All of us at Clan Macquarrie Community Centre have cause to be very grateful to Community Energy Scotland – and to their local team in Stornoway in particular…thanks to their regular and excellent advice and guidance since 2009, we have managed to achieve a strong level of energy efficiency combined with annual income generation from renewables…CES guided us to the Climate Challenge Fund and helped us structure our successful application…We have no hesitation in recommending community organisations make contact with CES should they be considering an energy project.
Donald MacDonald
Clan Macquarrie Community Centre, Isle of Lewis
In the early 2000’s the thought of a community group installing a large wind turbine seemed extremely ambitious. Eight years later, we had our first 900kW turbine generating clean green energy and providing us with an income. We only achieved it with the constant help and advice of Community Energy Scotland. Their staff understood renewable energy and also, importantly, understood communities. It was the best development support any community could get. Another two turbines followed in just over a year and ensured that our community owned estate had a core income for the years ahead. CES local staff were always at our side through the journey and always able to call on skilled colleagues for specialist knowledge. The team worked very well together. Without them we would not have overcome the many challenges. CES gave us the confidence and knowledge to continue and complete our turbine development – the income from renewable energy that followed, gave us the confidence and means to support our community, and they still are supporting us.
Carola Bell
Galston Trust, Isle of Lewis
Community Energy Scotland were very helpful in assisting us to understand our new energy bills and meters, and supported us in looking at pricing. It’s well worth being a member!
Ronnie Mackinnon
Kildonan Museum
Since taking up the role of Development Manager at the Kirkconnel Parish Heritage Society, I have found the N76 team, in particular Rosie, to be approachable and knowledgeable. The contacts I have made have helped the Society to further their commitment to affordable and accessible transport. With the help and advice of others within the N76, we are on our way to securing funding for a new minibus which will be more accessible for those with reduced mobility. This has only been possible with the support of the N76 group as I wasn’t sure how to secure the funding or indeed, just how important community transport is to rural areas.
Having the support of Community Energy Scotland has has been a massive help in delivering projects here on Raasay as part of the CNI project. Particularly helpful has been having access to their knowledge base and project support.
Tom Lusink
Raasay Development Trust
Community Energy ‘State of the Sector’ overview: Supporting the voice of community energy in Scotland and the UK.
