Scotland has awarded more than £10 million to low carbon energy projects.

A total of nine projects will receive the money through the Scottish Government’s Local Energy Challenge Fund.

They include two district heating schemes and a project to build small hydro power plant in Galashiels.

A community Local Energy Supply Company with the sole aim of getting cheaper energy for the residents of the tower blocks at Dumbiedykes in Edinburgh will be established through the fund.

Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: “By creating a system that focuses on local energy we can help tackle some of our most pressing issues including fuel poverty, increasing costs and security of supply.

“The Scottish Government has put in place a wide range of support to empower communities to take control of their local energy use and supply. The success of this support is demonstrated by the fact that we have achieved our community and locally owned target of 500MW by 2020, five years early.