Grants for Geothermal in Scotland and the UK

Communities and Renewable Energy Scheme

From April 2009 Community Energy Scotland took over the management of the community renewables grant programme, now called Communities and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES). CARES continues the support available for communities under the previous Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI). The scheme provides support and grants for community groups Scotland wide. Grants of up to £150,000 are now available. Please visit scotland.gov.uk for more details.

Schools can also apply for the Lottery funded Community Sustainable Energy Programme
The Community Sustainable Energy Programme will provide 8 million to community-based organisations for the installation of microgeneration technologies. It will also provide 1 million for project development grants that will help community organisations establish if a microgeneration and energy efficiency installation will work for them. Capital grants will be awarded on a competitive basis at quarterly Selection Panel meetings. Project Development grants will be awarded on a first-come first-served basis until all funds are spent.

The deadline for the next round of funding is 5pm on Friday 30 July 2010. If you are submitting to the next round please ensure both the online application and all required hard copy documentation is received at CSEP on or before this deadline. Please visit communitysustainable.org.uk for more details.

Carbon Trust - Energy Efficiency Loans

The Carbon Trust offers interest free credit towards the installation of energy saving equipment such as ground and air source heat pumps.

The Carbon Trust's Energy-Efficiency Loans are unsecured and interest free, with no arrangement fees and a straightforward application process. Loans can be repaid over a period of up to four years, and many of our borrowers have found that their energy savings more than cover their repayments.

Loans of between £5000 and £200,000 are available.

To qualify for a loan, the projected cost of energy used after completion of the proposed project must show a significant reduction when compared to your existing energy bill. Energy Efficiency loans can be used in conjunction with the Governments ECA scheme (see below)

The Enchanced Capital Allowance Scheme (ECA)

This is a government scheme to manage climate change.
It provides tax relief for businesses investing in renewable energy products such as Ground and Air source heat pumps.

100 per cent first-year Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA) allow the full cost of an investment in designated energy-saving plant and machinery to be written off against the taxable profits of the period in which the investment is made. The general rate of capital allowances for spending on plant and machinery is 20% a year on the reducing balance basis. Please visit eca.gov.uk for more information.

Energy Saving Scotland

The grant scheme closed to new applications in July 2010.