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.
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.