Renewable Energy Fund Grants

You can apply for a small grant or a main Renewable Energy Fund grant. The size of your project will determine which option you should use, and when you need to apply.

Grant options

Small grants (under £20,000)

You can apply for up to 100% of eligible project costs, depending on available funds.
Small grants are assessed on a rolling basis and you can apply at any time. We aim to give you a decision within four weeks of receiving a complete application.

Main Renewable Energy Fund grants (over £20,000)

You can apply for up to 75% of eligible costs. In some higher‑funded areas, 100% grants may be available.
Main grants are decided quarterly. If your application is approved, we will send your offer letter within five working days of the committee meeting.

Deadlines for main grant applications

You must submit your application by one of the dates below. Decisions are made at the following committee meeting.

Areas eligible for 100% grants

Some areas receive contributions from two or more REF windfarms and may qualify for 100% funding. These include Middlemuir, Kypemuir, Blacklaw, Galawhistle, Whitelees, Douglas West, Andershaw, Auchrobert, Dalquandy, Calderwater and West Browncastle.

Villages covered include Abington, Auchenheath, Auldhouse, Blackwood, Brocketsbrae, Coalburn, Chapelton, Crawfordjohn, Douglas, Drumclog, Glespin, Kirkmuirhill, Lesmahagow, Rigside, Stonehouse, Strathaven and parts of East Kilbride such as Whitehill, Greenhills and Crosshouse.

Match funding is always encouraged. Grants over £20,000 at 100% are rare and only awarded when a strong project cannot secure match funding.

Eligible match funding

You can include in‑kind match funding for revenue projects, such as volunteer time. For example, 52 volunteer hours costed at the Real Living Wage of £12 per hour provides £624 of match funding.