Locogen began work on their first CARES funded project over 10 years ago. Since then, we have completed an unprecedented number of projects, most only made possible with CARES funding, through all stages of development and considering technologies including wind, solar PV, hydroelectricity and low-carbon heating.
One of Locogen’s most significant projects includes the 900kW Bespoke Community Development Company turbine in Lionthorn, Falkirk, where the group approached CARES for support under the first tranche of funding in 2013. Locogen continued to support Bespoke CDC through significant financial and planning constraints for almost a decade, including through the height of the pandemic. The collaborative partnership finally paid off in 2021 when the turbine was commissioned, and it is believed to be the last turbine in the UK to receive payments under the Feed-in Tariff scheme.
However, not all of the work we do with CARES support is related to the development of large multi-MW renewable energy installations. As the preferred framework supplier on the CARES Technical Advice Framework, many of our current projects are centred around feasibility studies and options appraisals looking at how small low-carbon electricity and heat projects can make big differences to the cost of energy and reduction in carbon emissions for island communities, rural settlements, and businesses with green aspirations. Within the last year alone, we have completed projects on Canna and Muck, and for organisations within Edinburgh and Fife; we are currently working on projects in Tayvallich and Knoydart and are looking to start working with communities on Lewis, North Ronaldsay and Tiree in the coming weeks.
Locogen’s decade-long successful track record with CARES funded community developments has only been made possible through a genuine passion for delivering high quality, impactful projects, to the extent that for both the Bespoke wind turbine and the Ben Mor hydroelectric scheme in Achiltibuie, Locogen invested in the projects to help secure a positive result and share economic risk.
Throughout all stages of a project’s lifetime, Locogen is committed to finding innovative solutions that best fit a community’s needs, recognising that all communities have their unique opportunities and challenges.
While unstable energy prices, increasing capital costs, and the delays in receiving grid connection times are currently impacting almost all UK renewable energy projects, community energy projects are also impacted by the challenges of coordinating multiple stakeholders, maintaining group coherence as project timescales extend as well as the perennial challenge of accessing funding. We work to provide all our projects with clear and consistent support throughout the life of these developments, helping them to adapt and grow to move past these challenges.
We seek to define decarbonisation solutions that are not only technically feasible but also provide a genuine economic benefit alongside significant environmental opportunities, while working to support communities, sharing knowledge and minimising risk.
We welcome introductory calls from all communities looking to develop renewable energy projects of any scale with support from CARES.