For Scottish businesses & community organisations

Renewable energy projects, with the funding paperwork done properly.

A meaningful share of our work isn't domestic. Community halls, faith buildings, charities, SMEs and public-sector sites across Scotland come to us because we understand the funding landscape, design honestly for each building, and run the install with the same in-house team that does the survey.

Talk to us about a project See the funding routes

Funding routes

The schemes you might not know you can access.

Most Scottish commercial and community installs are part-funded. The four routes below cover the vast majority of projects. We will tell you honestly during a first conversation which one fits.

CARES

Community and Renewable Energy Scheme

Capital grants and development loans from Scottish Government for community-led renewables. Charities, community groups, halls and faith buildings can apply. We help you scope a project that fits CARES eligibility and draft the technical sections of the application.

Who it's for

Charities · Community groups · Halls · Faith buildings

SME Loan + Cashback

Interest-free loan + cashback grant

For Scottish small and medium businesses: interest-free loans for energy-efficient upgrades, plus cashback grants up to £30,000 covering a meaningful share of the project cost. The cashback element is generally treated as the upper limit on grant funding — the loan covers the balance.

Who it's for

Small and medium Scottish businesses

Business Energy Scotland

Free advice + audit + route-finding

A free service for Scottish businesses run by Energy Saving Trust on behalf of the Scottish Government. Independent energy audits, business case support, and a route through to whichever funding scheme actually fits. Usually the right place to start before committing to a direction.

Who it's for

Any Scottish business considering an energy upgrade

Public Sector Energy Efficiency Loans

For councils, schools, NHS and other public bodies

Interest-free loans for public sector organisations undertaking decarbonisation work. Used for fabric upgrades, low-carbon heat, on-site generation, and storage. We work alongside in-house estates teams and existing framework contractors.

Who it's for

Councils · Schools · NHS sites · Other public bodies

Who we work with

Eight kinds of organisation, one approach.

Different building types, different funding routes — but the same design philosophy: retain what works, replace what doesn't, size to actual use rather than catalogue defaults.

  • Community halls and village halls
  • Churches, kirks, and faith buildings
  • Small and medium businesses across Scotland
  • Charities and third-sector organisations
  • Holiday lets, B&Bs, and self-catering
  • Schools, nurseries and educational settings
  • GP surgeries and small NHS sites
  • Care homes and supported housing

How we design

Up to £10,000 saved on a typical commercial install.

On many commercial installs we retain existing components — controls, pipework, distribution, radiators, panels or cabling — that other installers replace by default. On a typical commercial heat pump or solar project the saving runs to £5,000–£10,000 against a stock quote, and the install completes faster with less disruption to the building's normal use.

This isn't about cutting corners. It's about taking the time at survey to understand what's there, what works, and what genuinely needs replacing — then designing accordingly. It's the same philosophy that drives our domestic work. It scales naturally to commercial.

What we install

The same four pillars, scaled for commercial sites.

Commercial heat pumps

Air-to-water heat pumps for halls, faith buildings and SMEs running on oil, LPG or ageing gas.

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Commercial solar PV

Roof-mounted solar for sites with high daytime usage — schools, offices, community facilities.

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Commercial battery storage

Peak shaving and smart-tariff arbitrage. Pairs naturally with on-site generation.

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Commercial air conditioning

Multi-zone systems for offices, retail, hospitality and healthcare. F-Gas-certified.

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Frequently asked

Commercial project questions, answered honestly.

How do I know which scheme applies to my organisation?
Start with a conversation. We will tell you within fifteen minutes which routes are realistic for your organisation type, building, and timescale. If Business Energy Scotland is the right first step, we will say so — they offer free audits and we are happy to coordinate.
Do you handle the funding applications, or do we?
Both. We draft the technical sections (specifications, heat loss data, energy modelling, expected savings) and provide everything the funder needs. You handle the organisational sections (governance, accounts, project leadership). Many of our community clients are running on volunteer time; we keep the burden on you proportionate.
What is the typical lead time?
For private SME work: 6–10 weeks from quote to commissioning, depending on equipment lead times and scaffolding. For community and public-sector projects with funding applications: usually 4–9 months including the application cycle. We will tell you the realistic timeline at survey.
Will you work alongside our existing contractors?
Yes. On larger commercial sites we frequently work alongside in-house estates teams, M&E consultants, and main contractors. We are happy to integrate into existing CDM and procurement frameworks.
Can you provide references from similar organisations?
Yes. We can put you in touch with previous commercial and community clients of a similar type and scale. Several of them are happy to receive a site visit if you want to see a comparable install before committing.

Next step

Request a free commercial survey.

Our in-house team will visit your property, take the measurements that matter, and follow up with a fixed-price quote. No call-out fee, no obligation.