Over £10 million has been awarded by the Scottish Government to support nine large-scale low carbon energy projects throughout the country.

The community projects will receive the funding through the Local Energy Challenge Fund, which aims to demonstrate the 'value and benefit' of local low carbon energy economies that link energy generation to energy use.

The successful schemes awarded funding include:

• Two ambitious district heating schemes.

• Using surplus energy in Orkney to reduce fuel household costs.

• Empowering Edinburgh tower block residents to collectively purchase energy and reduce fuel bills.

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• Support for a low head hydro power scheme in Galashiels.

Speaking at the annual Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) Conference in Stirling, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: "Community energy represents tremendous potential to empower people to make the most of their local resources.

"By creating a system that focuses on local energy we can help tackle some of our most pressing issues including fuel poverty, increasing costs and security of supply. That is why today, I am delighted to announce the awarding of over £10 million to nine projects stretching from Orkney to Galashiels.

"The successful projects include support for a pilot smart energy control system in Orkney and two heat pump projects in Perth and Glasgow to developing a new fuel source from the agricultural sector in Montrose.

"The Scottish Government has put in place a wide range of support to empower communities to take control of their local energy use and supply. The success of this support is demonstrated by the fact that we have achieved our community and locally owned target of 500MW by 2020, five years early."

(LM)