CARES Conference 2023

Join Local Energy Scotland this September for the annual CARES conference which will take place in central Glasgow on Tuesday 19 September 2023.

The Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) supports communities to engage, participate and benefit in the energy transition to net zero. This year’s conference will look at how even more communities can take action on renewable energy, from decarbonising community buildings through to taking shared ownership in windfarms.

In open sessions you’ll hear from Gillian Martin MSP, Minister for Energy, plus organisations and communities that are taking innovative approaches to community engagement as well as those that are working to decarbonise heat. You’ll hear inspirational case studies as well as the policy and learning behind the action.

After lunch there will be two sets of parallel practical sessions. Here you’ll be able to choose from workshops that include shared ownership, decarbonising community buildings, the latest information on heat pumps, and best practice in the use of community benefits. These sessions are designed to help you understand what knowledge, skills, and actions you might need to develop your community renewable energy projects.

Throughout the day you’ll be able to meet Local Energy Scotland’s local development officers. You’ll be able to find out more about CARES and ask specific questions about existing renewable energy projects or an idea you might have that could be eligible for CARES support.

Find out more on the Local Energy Scotland website.