A new funding scheme has been launched which promises to reduce electricity bills and benefit communities across the Outer Hebrides.

Community groups are being encouraged to express interest in the Outer Hebrides Community Energy Fund. Designed to assist with energy-efficiency projects, it has been developed by Community Energy Scotland (CES) in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and LEADER.

The £259,985 grant scheme is designed to address gaps in current support for community-led energy projects within the Outer Hebrides, particularly renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects that contribute to community sustainability.

The 18-month scheme will be managed and administered by CES, offering communities the chance to win a grant of up to a maximum of £30,000.

The grant will assist community groups, who own and manage facilities, to become more energy efficient, which in turn will help them become more sustainable and profitable. It may also be used to assess the feasibility of incomegenerating renewable energy projects, helping communities to assess the possibility of different renewable options.