Community Renewables

Real Alternatives offers support and advice directly to communities and to the many agencies, authorities and organisations who work with communities to help support them in their development of renewable energy projects.

Our services include:

• Technology advice and support
• Design and facilitation of community consultation and engagement exercises
• Site feasibility, survey and selection
• Project concept viability, financial modelling and business planning
• Finance structuring and negotiations
• Scoping and consultation
• Environmental impact assessment
• Project management
• Monitoring and evaluation

We work with and for communities in a knowledge sharing relationship rather than the traditional approach in which a narrowly focussed consultant is parachuted in and out. We help communities in all areas, including the more difficult, technical and challenging, to build ownership of their projects and to develop their understanding of the development process. Such an approach provides a sustainable and long-term solution by creating a level of understanding that allows communities to operate and manage their new assets for themselves.

We also appreciate the full range of benefits and outcomes renewable energy technology can provide for communities whether for generating an income stream, reducing running costs, creating employment or enhancing skills. Our thinking is integrated and holistic and we like to 'think out of the box' to create truly unique, worthwhile and meaningful projects.

Real Alternatives is currently acting as agent for the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company for the Argyll and the Islands area, delivering their services and providing advice and support to allow communities to realise their own renewable energy ambitions.

"Real solutions in a changing world"

(10% of all our profit goes directly on making all of Real Alternatives activities carbon neutral)