CommonWatt – door opens to community energy
We’re delighted that a bid led by WLCAN to the Community Energy Generation Growth fund has been successful. WLCAN led the bid for funding to explore feasibility for a number of sites across south-east Scotland, and six will now be studied for potential development. These are among a pipeline of over 40 sites that could bring renewable energy generation into the heart of communities, giving them ownership of their own energy sources, and investing surplus earnings back into the area.
WLCAN shares in £20,000 with two other climate hubs for technical assessment of six initial sites. The CommonWatt application includes East Lothian and Midlothian Climate Hubs. Each hub area will have two sites assessed; in West Lothian these will be the Xcite leisure facilities in Linlithgow and Bathgate. It is hoped larger sites, when developed, will form a template for smaller ones.
The bid was led by Neil Barnes. The announcement came as Neil finishes up as Senior Development Worker with WLCAN, with him being offered an exciting opportunity with the Verdancy Group/FEDCAP in the green skills sector. Neil will continue to offer his experience in developing community energy, adding: “I’ll still be volunteering locally for Linlith-Go-Solar/Linlithgow CDT and want to continue to contribute some of my free time to the emerging CommonWatt community energy initiative. We have embarked upon this collective initiative with the other SE Scotland climate hubs and Lothians in particular. We have a growing joint pipeline of some 43 sites. The stars are aligning for a brighter future for community-owned energy.”
Jocelyn Lockhart will now be moving into the role of Senior Development Worker. The team and board are looking forward to working with the external consultant on the funded feasibility studies.
The Community Energy Generation Growth Fund is administered by the Scottish Government’s CARES. Read more about the £5.5 million worth of awards to development community energy across Scotland here.
CommonWatt’s joint announcement is here.
Climate Week Stories
We’re marking Scotland’s Climate Week 2025 by celebrating the work of network members.
Broxburn and Uphall Growers’ Society conducted a trial of electroculture, comparing food grown on soil supercharged with natural energy forces against plants with no additional help. The results were impressive despite a year with more challenges from pests, a reduction in pollinators and weather extremes over summer.
The group are one of several in WLCAN looking to address local food supply as well as quality and how it’s grown. Like others involved in nature restoration and flood mitigation, gardeners are the eyes of climate change. See pictures and read observations of the community garden in 2025 from BUGS’ lead grower Helen here.
Read more about how the growing trial was set up with help from our Eco Fund here.
St Michael’s RC Church Linlithgow is a local grouping of a global charity Saint Vincent de Paul. WLCAN helped to fund expansion of raised beds to increase produce. The produce from the beds goes directly to the Foodbank, helping to cut food waste and promote community involvement.
Children love helping and it has been made more accessible and efficient in use of water. The garden is thriving thanks to this year’s effective re-routing of water supply, new growing beds and further ones on loan, and starting to make their own compost. Donations of seeds and potatoes from the community show how food growing projects really get people involved and make a difference to the supply of freshly grown food, cutting down transport and emphasising the benefits of seasonal produce grown naturally.
See more of their achievements here
To find out more or get in contact with the church, see its listing on our members’ page.
Livingston Community Shed outline their thriving portfolio of activities, which runs from garden that is the focus of a peat-free growing trial, an orchard, furniture repairs and work experience for young people. Passing skills on from one generation to the next is just the start. Read more here.
Learn more about Livingston Shed on our members pages and read how the work has grown since funding with WLCAN’s Eco Development Fund.
