Heat Network: quarterly report September 2025

LCITP Capital Projects

AMIDS District Heating Network

Project Organisation:

Renfrewshire Council

Technology type(s):

Treated water converted into ambient heat directed through underground network and upgraded using heat pumps.

Location:

Paisley, Renfrewshire

Grant value:

£3,136,968

Completion date:

March 2023

Project description:

Renfrewshire Council has developed a state-of-the-art, low carbon heating network at the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) including the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) and the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre. The first of its kind in Scotland, the fifth-generation renewable energy network works by directing treated water into a new energy centre, where low temperature heat is extracted and channeled through a 3.7km underground pipe loop. Heat pumps at each building upgrade this heat to suitable levels for heating and hot water. The network provides a cost-effective route to low carbon heating, an attractive proposition for major manufacturers locating at AMIDS and is future-proofed to supply further developments nearby.

Abbey Ecosse

Project Organisation:

Abbey Ecosse

Technology type(s):

Energy system comprising an anaerobic digestion plant, biogas engine, peak demand biogas boiler, EV chargers, electrical storage and grid export.

Location:

Forss Energy and Business Park, Thurso

Grant value:

£1,111,975 LCITP Grant

Completion date:

Summer 2024

Project description:

The Project will install and commission an integrated low carbon energy network, which comprises of a combination of an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant providing heat and power to the site; biogas gas engine; peak demand biogas boiler; electrical storage and grid export. The Old Poultney Distillery will provide by-products to the AD plant for the generation of biogas. EV charging points will be used by commuters between Thurso and establishments such as Dounreay Nuclear Facility as well as by tourists utilising the North Coast 500 route.

It is estimated that the project will achieve carbon savings of 130,612 kgCO₂e pa, representing an 86% reduction relative to business as usual.

Torry Heat Network, Phase 1

Project Organisation:

Aberdeen City Council

Technology type(s):

Heat network, Energy from Waste (EfW)

Location:

Torry, Aberdeen

Grant value:

£5,787,235 LCITP Grant

Completion date:

December 2023

Project description:

The project developed a new district heating network, distributing heat from a Heat Distribution Facility at Tullos Recycling Centre and a heat offtake at the new Energy from Waste plant at Tullos. The project links to the existing HeatNet district heat network to provide additional connections to domestic, local authority and third sector customers.

LCITP funding was granted for the construction of the new district heating network infrastructure, and the construction of the undertrack rail crossing, enabling district heat network pipework to be routed between Greenwell Road and Tullos Primary School.

Zero Carbon Affordable Homes

Project Organisation:

LAR Housing Trust

Technology type(s):

Shared-ground loop heat pumps and thermal storage

Location:

Fountainbridge, Edinburgh

Grant value:

£128,283 LCITP Grant

Completion date:

April 2024

Project description:

The project will install a shared group loop array heating system with ground source heat pumps and high efficiency heat batteries to serve 14 properties (10 affordable flats and 4 houses) in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh. The 10 flats included in the project will then be made available for mid-market rent. The project is predicted to produce carbon savings of 47,560 kgCO₂e when compared to business-as-usual scenarios.

Glen Mhor Heat Project

Project Organisation:

Glen Mhor Ltd

Technology type(s):

Energy centre with 1MW water source heat pump

Location:

Glen Mhor Hotel, Inverness

Grant value:

£1,646,642 LCITP Grant

Completion date:

September 2024

Project description:

The project will install and commission a new energy centre which will house a 1 MW water source heat pump and use water from the River Ness to supply heat to the Glen Mhor Hotel in Inverness. It is hoped that additional connections to the heat network may be feasible in the future, such as connecting a planned Brewery and Visitor Centre development at the hotel as well as a nearby Church of Scotland and social housing development. However, none of these connections have been confirmed at this stage.

The project is expected to reduce emissions by approximately 730 tCO₂e pa and commission in September 2024.

Millerhill Low Carbon District Heating Project

Project Organisation:

Midlothian Council

Technology type(s):

Construction of energy centre and heat network using heat from the Millerhill Energy from Waste Plant

Location:

Shawfair, Midlothian

Grant value:

£7,407,000 LCITP Grant

Completion date:

Autumn 2024

Project description:

The Project will install an exemplar low carbon district heating network at the new, emerging town of Shawfair which uses heat from the Millerhill Energy from Waste plant to deliver heat to the first plots of the Shawfair development. This initial network will be capable of expansion into the wider Midlothian, East Lothian and Edinburgh areas. The new joint venture ESCO between Midlothian Council, Vattenfall Heat UK and Midlothian Energy Limited has now been established and will lead on securing relevant heat off-take and supply agreements with the relevant parties and establishing an appropriate and a tiered tariff structure for end users.

Granton Waterfront Western Villages

Project Organisation:

The City of Edinburgh Council

Technology type(s):

District heating system using air and water source heat pumps; solar PV, energy efficiency improvements and enhanced utilities with smart controls for metering and billing.

Location:

Granton Waterfront Development, North Edinburgh

Grant value:

£4,102,801 LCITP Grant

Completion date:

March 2025

Project description:

The project will deliver low carbon heat to 444 new-build properties in the Granton Waterfront Western Villages development through the use of nine external air source heat pumps, seven water to water heat pumps and a district heating pipe network to each apartment block. Each property will also be fitted with solar PV, enhanced utilities and fabric improvements. The predicted carbon savings from the project are approximately 317.8 tCO₂e pa- when compared to a gas heating system.

Clyde Heat

Project Organisation:

Peel NRE Developments Ltd

Technology type(s):

Water source heat pumps, high efficiency back up boilers and heat network infrastructure

Location:

Glasgow Harbour Development

Grant value:

£5,100,000 LCITP Grant

Completion date:

March 2026

Project description:

The project will install two 1.5MW water source heat pumps which will supply low carbon heat via a heat network. The heat network will serve the Glasgow Harbour Development, notably Yorkhill Quay and Therme spa. The project will commission 15.2MW of high efficiency boilers to meet peak loads. The development is planned to consist of a mix of commercial, residential and leisure end users who will be offered low carbon heat at a competitive rate.

Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund Capital Projects

Carron Estate ASHP Heat Network Project

Lead Organisation:

NG Homes

Project Stage:

Operational

Technology type(s):

Air Source Heat Pump; Solar PV

Location:

Springburn, Glasgow

Type of Support:

£3,695,187 SHNZHF grant

Completion date:

Commissioned July 2022

Project Description:

Installation of ASHP system to replace existing electric wet system in 314 homes in tower blocks.

This project saw NG Homes install ASHPs into seven tower blocks in the Springburn area of Glasgow, North of Glasgow City Centre. There are four 16-storey high –rise tower

blocks and three 9-storey tower blocks situated on the Carron Estate. The 314 dwellings within the blocks previously had a mixture of ‘old’ inefficient electric storage and electric wet systems, which are expensive to run.

The project installed a Commercial-Grade Mitsubishi Ecodan CAHV Monobloc Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) system which is connected to an underground district heat network that will serve all seven blocks. The heat network has pre-insulated pipework connected to insulated steel risers through each of the blocks. Insulated copper pipework forms the lateral pipework into each of the dwellings.

The system also benefits from the installation of solar PV onto three of seven blocks.

MacKenzie Gardens’ Zero Emissions Heating Project

Lead Organisation:

Grampian Housing Association

Project Stage:

Operational

Technology Type(s):

Communal ASHP system with solar PV, battery storage and additional insulation measures

Location:

Turriff, Aberdeen

Type of Support:

£306,534 SHNZHF grant

Completion date:

Commissioned August 2022

Project Description:

Grampian Housing Association received grant funding to install a communal air source heat pump system to supply low carbon heat to 23 social housing homes in Aberdeen. Solar panel were installed so solar energy can be stored (in battery storage) and used to reduce energy costs for tenants, with any excess energy been fed back into the grid or provisioned for use in other Grampian Housing Association housing stock nearby.

The system was also designed with the potential for adding additional properties in the future, with the ASHP system designed to allow heat pump modules to be added.

Arlington Street

Lead Organisation:

West of Scotland Housing Association

Project Stage:

Operational

Technology Type(s):

Communal ASHP system

Location:

Arlington Street, Glasgow

Type of Support:

£310,000 SHNZHF grant

Completion date:

Commissioned May 2024

Project Description:

This project included replacing current communal gas boilers with a communal ASHP system including thermal storage to maximise heat output and window replacement.

Arlington Street is a sheltered housing complex for elderly people consisting of twenty five flats spread across three floors, which was previously heated by a communal gas-fired boiler plant in the ground floor. A communal ASHP was deemed the most effective clean heating solution with individual Heat Interface Unit (HIU) for each flat and a backup electric boiler.

The HIU allows tenants to control and be billed for their heating and hot water use rather than being billed for the buildings heating demand, which could exceed their personal use. The communal ASHP has reduced the carbon footprint of the building and offers reduction in energy bills for tenants with the support of fabric improvements, including thermal glazed windows.