St Ninian’s Aberdeen has recently installed solar PV panels and battery storage, thanks to £39,900 funding from the Scottish Government’s Community Building Fund (CARES).
The Community Building Fund (CARES) has now re-opened its next round of funding. Eligible community groups can apply for grants of up to £80,000, covering up to 80% of project costs, to help reduce carbon emissions and make buildings more sustainable. Your church may be eligible.
CARES supports renewable technologies such as heat pumps, solar PV, battery storage and solar water heating, as well as energy‑efficiency measures. It can also cover essential costs like planning permission, building warrants and grid connections.
Project management through partner organisation Civic can be included as part of a CARES funding: Supporting Scotland’s CARES Framework to deliver renewable energy benefits to communities | Civic
To apply, you must install at least one core measure (such as a heat pump or solar PV), with the option to add insulation, secondary glazing, draught‑proofing, energy storage and controls. A 20% contribution from your Charge, or other funding sources, is required.
If you haven’t already registered with CARES, you can submit an Expression of Interest. Although grant offers can’t be issued until after the May Scottish election, applications are being assessed and queued on a first‑come, first‑served basis. The fund closes October 2026 (or sooner if fully allocated), and projects must be completed by 15 March 2027.
How to get started on a project: register your interest first, then gather quotes, secure permissions (including Canon 35 approval if needed), and line up any additional funding.
More information on all of this and further details on submissions can be found here: CARES Community Buildings Fund.
If you are planning a church solar project, have a look at what St Mary’s Hamilton has done: Case Study: St Mary’s Hamilton solar project. There are many more case studies of SEC church building projects available here.
Provincial Net Zero Team
