This free site assessment by Scottish Enterprise can help your business discover the best mix of technologies to allow you to generate renewable energy on your premises.

A sustainability specialist will use the OnGen expert software platform to assess your site's suitability for the installation of up to 10 different types of renewable technologies. These include:

• roof or ground mounted solar PV
• solar
• thermal
• air source heat pumps
• ground source heat pumps
• wind
• biomass heating
• biomass combined heat and power (CHP)
• gas CHP
• battery storage

The assessment process is straightforward and will not necessarily require a site visit.

The process

First, a Scottish Enterprise sustainability specialist will assess your business's suitability for the service.

You'll then need to provide 12 months of energy data (ideally recorded every half hour) so your energy consumption and site characteristics can be evaluated. The assessment cannot be completed without this.

If your business is suitable, the specialist will set up a profile for your site on the software platform and upload your energy data.

You'll then meet with the specialist, either on-site or virtually, to answer a series of site-specific questions.

The specialist will then plot different types of renewables infrastructure on a virtual site map in the software platform. The system will create a detailed, impartial report for your business with a full breakdown of each of these technologies, including information on:

• capital costs
• estimated running and maintenance costs
• estimated CO2 savings
• payback periods
• your degree of suitability
• the total energy demand that could be met by renewables

Your business can use the results of this review to decide if you want to implement any of the renewable energy options assessed.

To be eligible, your business must have between 10 and 250 employees and be based in the area served by Scottish Enterprise. This includes Aberdeen City and Shire, the east of Scotland, Tayside and the west of Scotland.

Ideally, you'll also be looking to invest in your business, develop new products or services, or grow internationally.

Priority will be given to businesses with high energy spend that are planning to install renewable energy solutions.

This assessment is a free service. However, there will be costs involved if you choose to implement any of the suggested renewable energy options.

Scottish businesses with 10 to 250 employees that wish to generate renewable energy on-site.

This is primarily a desktop review, and the entire assessment process can take from 1 to 5 days.

The time required for your input is usually less than half a day.

To get accurate results, you'll need to provide 12 months of energy data (ideally recorded every half hour), as well as:

• your tariff details
• your hours of work
• the building infrastructure
• site access
• knowledge of the surrounding area

The assessment cannot be completed without this information.

This service is only available to businesses with 10 to 250 employees, located in the area served by Scottish Enterprise. This includes Aberdeen City and Shire, the east of Scotland, Tayside and the west of Scotland.

Contact Scottish Enterprise to request a call from a sustainability specialist to assess your suitability for this service.