In addition to expanding large-scale renewable energy developments, there is increasing focus on the role small-scale decentralised renewable energy developments could play in helping the UK meet its target of 15% renewable energy by the year 2020. Upland areas are considered key areas where such developments could occur due to their abundant natural resource and range of community scales. This study uses overlay and multi-criteria techniques to develop a GIS based methodology that assesses the regional-scale potential for decentralised renewable energy across Cumbria, including resource and energy potential mapping and a level of demand side assessment.