Welcome to the CARES Toolkit - guiding you through the process of developing a renewable energy project.
- Never used the toolkit before? Read this first.
- Then, select your chosen technology, which will signpost you to other toolkit modules you may need.
- Use the filter button to select which modules are most relevant and add them to your basket so you can download all in one go - free.
Find what you're looking for
Technology options
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Local energy supply
Find out about the different ways you can structure and design projects to be more financially viable. -
Wind
An introduction to developing a wind project, featuring a step-by-step guide and tools to help you estimate the resources you’ll need. -
Hydropower
An introduction to developing hydropower project, featuring a step-by-step guide and tools to help you estimate the resources you’ll need. -
Solar PV
An introduction to developing a solar PV project, featuring a step-by-step guide and information to help you estimate solar irradiation. -
Solar thermal
Find out everything you need to know about developing a Solar Thermal project. -
Biomass
An introduction to developing a biomass project, featuring a step-by-step guide and links to other useful information. -
Microgrid-private wire
Find out everything you need to know about Microgrids and Private Wire Networks in Scotland -
Electrical energy storage
Find out about the different grid support services that help to maintain a stable and reliable electricity supply. -
Heat Pumps
An introduction to developing a heat pump project, featuring a step-by-step guide and links to other useful information. -
Innovative Energy Systems
Examples of innovative electricity projects funded under the Scottish Government’s Local Energy Challenge Fund (LECF).
Business planning
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Shared ownership
Find out about shared ownership models, how they work, and what to consider when making an investment decision. -
Electricity Markets
Find out about the range of electrical market options to think about when deciding what electrical export path to take. -
Feed-in-Tariff
Find out about the Feed-in-Tariff, the main fiscal-support mechanism for renewable energy, with information on eligibility and how to apply. -
Renewable Heat Incentive
Find out about the Renewable Heat Incentive, the main fiscal-support mechanism for renewable heat, with information on eligibility and how to apply. -
Project Finance
Get an overview of the basics of finance and sources of funding, along with in-depth information on topics like project finance options and financial viability. -
Sources of Finance
Find out about the different sources of finance and which stage of your project they would be suited to. -
Investment Ready Process
Use this tool to help you gather all the information you need to provide a potential lender, to help secure investment for your project. -
Developing Business Plans
Use this tool to help develop your business plan, which can be used as part of your funding application.
Setting up an organisation
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Establishing a Community Group
Find out about the role of the Community Group, how to set up your group, and what advice and support is available. -
Partnerships and Collaborations
Find out how partnership and collaboration could benefit your organisation, including how to find partners and how to manage a partnership arrangement.
Project development
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The Project Roadmap
Use the project roadmap to go through the four project development stages, with a step-by-step guide to each stage. -
Developing a Project Idea
Use this step by step framework to develop your project concept from an initial project idea to a more robust feasibility study. -
Grid Connection
Use this module to find out about grid connection, with a guide to the connection process and links to other useful information. -
Securing a Site
Find out about securing a site, with a guide to each step of the process and links to other useful information. -
Procurement
Find out about procuring services, goods and hardware for your project, with a guide to the procurement process and links to other useful information. -
Planning
Find out about planning your renewable energy project, with information on local planning authorities and links to other useful information. -
Construction
Find out about the construction process, with health and safety information and links to technology specific guides. -
Project Plan
Download a Project Plan template.
Community benefits toolkit
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Overview
Sets out the purpose and structure of the CARES community benefit toolkit and provides a provisional road map for those seeking to secure, set up and deliver community benefits. -
Understanding the community context
This module provides an introduction to community development and the various stakeholders in a community and their roles. -
Securing community benefits
Take a look at the key principles to bear in mind and the questions to ask when discussing community benefit packages. -
Getting the governance right
This module looks at the principles and procedures of good governance, identifies some of the legal structures available for governance and provides some options for administrative arrangements. -
Creating a lasting legacy
Discover the key elements of, and the practicalities involved in developing, a community action plan. -
Monitor, evaluate, report
This module will help those managing community benefit packages by setting out key steps for monitoring, evaluating and reporting on spend, impact and learning. -
Annex: Overview and common opportunities and challenges
An introduction to community benefits including some of the opportunities and challenges involved in setting up and delivering community benefits. -
Annex: Community development theory and practice
This annex provides further insight into the theory and practice behind community development. -
Annex: Developing a fund strategy
For those managing Community Benefit Funds. This annex will help you to develop a strategy to guide effective distribution of the Fund. -
Annex - Guide to open grant making
This module is particularly relevant for those managing community benefit funds, setting out tools, principles and advice on Fund promotion and decision making. -
Annex: Governance arrangements
This annex provides an introduction to governance structures available for managing community benefits. -
Annex: key questions for community benefit funds
Key questions to ask if a community benefit fund is part of the package of benefits available -
Tool: Community Action Plan ITT template
Template Invitation to Tender document for Community Action Plans -
Tool: Consultancy agreement template for CAP
Template consultancy agreement for Community Action Plans -
Tool: Consultant interview scoring sheet template for CAP
Template scoring sheet for conducting a consultant interviews for Community Action Plans -
Tool: Sample code of conduct for an advisory panel
Sample code of conduct for a community benefits advisory panel -
Tool: Sample conflict of interest policy for an advisory panel
Sample conflict of interest policy for a community benefits panel -
Tool: Sample interview task questions for CAP
Sample interview questions for commissioning consultants for Community Action Plans -
Tool: Sample role description for an advisory panel
Sample role description for a community benefits panel -
Tool: Template terms of reference for an advisory panel
Terms of reference template for a community benefits panel -
Tool: Template Community Benefit Agreement
Template community benefit agreement between a project owner and a community body
Downloadable tools
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Shared Ownership - Indicative Finance Model
Use this tool to help work out the indicative financial viability of your Shared Ownership offer. -
Project plan
Use this template to help develop your project plan. -
Project Finance Model
A range of useful documents and information to help community groups understand the potential profitability of community renewable investments. -
Invitation to tender templates
These templates contain outline work briefs for consultants for specific stages of project development. -
Investment ready tool
Use this tool to collate all the information you need to develop your project and help secure finance. -
Contractual Templates
You can download a range of draft templates relating to contracts here. -
Guide to developing community-led local energy planning
A guide to developing community-led local energy plans has been developed to help communities and other stakeholders understand what is involved and how to go about developing a local energy plan. -
Battery options guide
Key characteristics and example use cases for common types of batteries.