Supporting Scotland’s CARES to deliver renewable energy benefits to communities

We're proud that Civic has been named preferred bidder on the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) technical advice framework. 

Our team will partner with Community Energy Scotland, an independent charity that provides assistance and knowledge on the transition to a low-carbon future, to provide technical advice to support community groups to install local renewable energy schemes.

Delivered by Local Energy Scotland, CARES supports communities to engage with, participate in and benefit from the transition to net zero emissions. To date, it has provided £74m grant funding and advice to support more than 1,600 different community projects, ranging from island solar farms, solar PV systems on schools and nurseries, and community wind farms. 

Led by Becky McLean, our director for sustainability, the team will draw on expertise from across Civic and Community Energy Scotland, to meet the needs of local groups accessing the scheme and help them progress with their community energy projects. This will include considering different renewable technologies, feasibility studies, design, economic appraisals, grid connection assessments and optioneering. 

Becky McLean, director of sustainability here at Civic, said: “With the rising threat of climate change, it’s never been more important that we build energy resilience, transition to Net Zero and create a greener and fairer future for people. 

“Scotland has been leading the way with the CARES framework, providing support to local groups to help them move forward with their community energy schemes, putting them at the heart of these projects. We are so pleased to be able to share our expertise to empower local communities, and to be supporting a scheme with such widespread and positive social, environmental and economic impact.”

Chris Morris, Local Energy Scotland manager, added: “Through CARES, we’ll continue to provide the hands-on expertise, guidance, and partnership that ensures the transition to net zero in Scotland is a just one. We are looking forward to working with Civic and Community Energy Scotland as our preferred bidder for the framework. The team’s breadth of services means local groups will benefit from a range of expertise all working together, from energy to engineering to sustainability and community engagement, which will add real value.”

The appointment follows an exciting phase of growth for Civic in Scotland. Milestone projects include: 

• EIA Ardersier Port Expansion, which will create Scotland’s largest facility on the North Sea coast for deploying and servicing offshore wind installations
• Supporting Vital Energi with environmental advisory services
• Edinburgh Innovation Hub, the nationally significant centre aiming to support business growth and enterprise
• Baltic Street in Leith, a mixed-use development with student accommodation, affordable housing and shops, and a digital co-working space
• Glasgow Avenues, where the team transformed the city centre streets by adding raingardens, cycle infrastructure and tree planting
• Custom House Quay in Glasgow, providing civil and structural services, along with stakeholder engagement, ensuring that this area’s redevelopment enhances connectivity and public space along the River Clyde