Community renewable projects across the north and north-east have been awarded more than £250,000.
Eleven projects were among the 17 Scottish schemes presented with £380,000 from the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (Cares) local energy challenge fund.
Awards include £24,000 to Highland Council’s Caol district heating scheme, £29,636 to Orkney Islands Council’s tidal hydrogen electrolyser, and £22,050 for Aberdeen Heat and Power’s water source heat pumps.
In Argyll and Bute, Community Energy Scotland was given £30,000 to improve grid connections to sustainable electric sources, while Dalavich Improvement Group received £29,502 towards the development of community micro-grid developments.
Announcing the funding Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said the local energy challenge fund will help reshape how energy is used and delivered throughout the country.
“We have an ambition to put communities at the heart of local energy systems,” he said.
“There are huge benefits to local energy ownership, like supporting the needs of the community for decades to come, whilst creating and securing jobs, underpinning regeneration and funding energy efficiency improvements for hundreds of local people.
“We want a renewable energy market where community stakes are the norm and local groups – private and public sector – can come together to design local energy systems that suit their needs.”