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Support for Renewable Energy - Non Land-Based

This funding option is designed to encourage Scottish rural communities and businesses to install small scale renewable energy capacity as a way to help diversification of the rural economy and improve the quality of life for rural areas.

WHAT CAN I GET SUPPORT FOR?
Under this funding option applicants can apply for support to install small scale renewable energy capacity, up to 250kw, such as biogas, biomass and microrenewables providing the project will contribute to:

  • Strengthen rural communities
  • Reduction in carbon emissions
  • Environmental improvements
  • Help towards developing a local, sustainable energy supply
  • Result in improvement in the viability of any non-land based business enterprise

WHO CAN APPLY?
Applications for support under this option are accepted from:

  1. Rural communities (<3,000 people)
  2. Rural (other than agricultural or forestry) businesses employing fewer than 10 people and whose turnover and/or annual balance sheet total does not exceed €2m
  3. Producer Networks

In addition, micro renewable energy systems (defined as up to 50kW or 45kW for heat) must be installed by a registered installer on the Microgeneration Accreditation list.  All Combined Heat and Power installations must meet the criteria set for Good Quality for the purposes of the Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA) scheme, as set out in the CHP Quality Assurance (CHOQA) Programme.  If you are located in a Smoke Control Area you must install an exempt appliance.

WHAT SUPPORT CAN I GET?
Under this option applicants can be awarded up to 50% of eligible costs to help with the:

  • purchase and installation, construction, upgrading or development of infrastructure and/or equipment of renewable device
  • purchase of specialist equipment for harvesting, pre-use processing, quality assurance and handling, if involved in the supply of wood fuel
  • direct set up costs related to the creation of producer groups, including legal and administrative work in setting up, rental of office accommodation and purchase/rental of office and IT equipment

The Scottish Government have specified that the technologies supported under this option are:

  • Small scale wind turbines
  • Hydro-electric turbines
  • Bio-diesel treatment and storage equipment
  • Solar panels
  • Automated woodfuel boilers
  • Heat pumps
  • Solar water heating
  • Anaerobic digestion equipment using slurry and other agricultural by-products in the production of energy
  • Specialist equipment for harvesting, pre-use processing (e.g. dryers, chippers, pelletisers), quality assurance (e.g. for checking moisture content, chip size, etc) and handling
  • Supply chain equipment

Applicants should remember that the application process is competitive and the level of award is variable, depending on the financial support required to ensure the project proceeds.

REGIONAL PRIORITIES?
Applicants are reminded that they must demonstrate how their proposal will help deliver the desired outcomes set out at local level as expressed in the Regional Priorities (clickable map).  As such it is recommended that applicants discuss their proposal with their local consultant at an early stage.