Social Housing Net Zero Fund: progress reports - February 2026
The Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund offers capital grant funding to support social housing landlords in Scotland to install clean heating systems and energy efficiency measures across their existing housing stock.
Projects Funded Under the Social Housing call of the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP)
Project Title: Moray Council Off-Gas Electrification of Heat
Project Organisation: Moray Council
Technology Type(s): ASHP, Solar PV and Battery Storage
Location(s): Multiple locations across Moray Council
Grant Value: £1,300,750
Completion Date: November 2023
Project Headline: Providing clean heating and microgeneration to 121 homes across Moray
Project Description:
This project across Moray focused on renewable generation and electrification of heat with a holistic whole energy systems approach. 121 socially rented properties had a combination of measures installed depending on property size and archetype.
The low carbon technology combination replaced a range of inefficient heating systems including solid fuel (coal) back boilers, electric panel heaters and electric storage heaters and so had a significant impact in reducing the risk of fuel poverty with the communities and improved householder comfort.
The project aimed to address the problem of decarbonising heat in smaller, hard to treat domestic properties. Tenant advice and support as well as tariff and supplier switching support was provided to ensure householders understand the new systems and how to get the most out of them/advice on how the systems interact with each other and how to maximise PV generation and ensure maximum efficiency of the heating systems are provided through a range of communication methods.
Project Title: Carron Estate ASHP Heat Network Project
Project Organisation: NG Homes
Technology Type(s): ASHP, Solar PV
Location(s): Springburn, Glasgow City Council
Grant Value: £3,695,187.60
Completion Date: July 2022
Project Headline: Installation of ASHP system to replace existing electric wet system in 314 homes in tower blocks.
Project Description:
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-story high-rise tower blocks and three 9-story 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.
Project Title: Moray and Aberdeenshire Heat Pumps 2021
Project Organisation: Osprey Housing
Technology Type(s): ASHP
Location(s): Multiple locations across Moray Council and Aberdeenshire Council
Grant Value: £342,441
Completion Date: May 2022
Project Headline: Providing clean heating to 61 homes across Moray and Aberdeenshire
Project Description:
This project took place in 61 properties in Burghead, Aberchirder, Garmouth and Keith. Replacing inefficient storage and panel heaters with ASHPs, efficient radiator system and hot water cylinders. A radiator was installed in each room with it's own thermostat and programmer. The new hot water cylinder is also heated by the ASHP. This helped to reduce fuel bills as the hot water was also heated with the off-peak electricity which was expensive to run.
These properties were selected for this project due to the concerns repeatedly raised by tenants regarding the effectiveness and the affordability of their previous heating systems. The housing association undertook monitoring of the properties to ensure the highest priority properties were being included in this project.
Project Title: Decarbonisation and Renewables Demonstrator Project
Project Organisation: Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership
Technology Type(s): ASHP, Solar PV, Battery Storage
Location(s): Multiple locations across Dumfries and Galloway Council including: Annan, Dumfries, Canonbie, Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie, Gretna, Kirkcudbright, Langholm, Lockerbie, Moffat, Newton Stewart, Sanquhar, Stranraer, Thornhill
Grant Value: £1,481,340
Completion Date: January 2023
Project Headline: Project replaced solid fuel heating in 101 properties with combined measures including ASHPs, solar PV panels and battery storage.
Project Description:
The project involved upgrading 101 solid fuel properties through the installation of ASHPs, solar PV panels and battery storage technology to decarbonise heat provision.
The project was designed to ensure those most likely to be in or at risk of fuel poverty and living in properties that were the least energy efficient were included. The tenant group largely comprised elderly individuals within rural and remote areas – a demographic that benefitted considerably from a reduction in utility bills and access to a greater discretionary income.
The insight gained from this pilot allowed Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership to take forward a long-term plan of decarbonisation.
Project Title: Hebridean Heat Pumps
Project Organisation: Hebridean Housing Partnership
Technology Type(s): ASHP
Location(s): Multiple locations across Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Grant Value: £708,611.04
Completion Date: April 2022
Project Headline: Replacing storage heating systems and inefficient electric boiler systems with new ASHP central heating systems.
Project Description:
This project installed ASHPs to 192 properties which were previously heated by storage heating or inefficient electric boilers. the archetypes of the properties were a mix of flats and houses.
Both previous heating systems had issues with affordability, efficiency and user controllability. Those tenants that had storage heating were on restricted meters, which made it difficult to switch suppliers. The non-heating tariff was also too expensive to be a viable option.
By installing clean heating, the energy consumption was reduced, as well as carbon emissions. Tenants were also given more control over their heating and their fuel bills were reduced in cost.
Project Title: Falkirk Council – Off-Gas Villages – Energy Efficiency Programme
Project Organisation: Falkirk Council
Technology Type(s): ASHP, Solar PV and Battery Storage
Location(s): Standburn, Torwood, South Alloa and Blackness, Falkirk Council
Grant Value: £298,273
Completion Date: November 202
Project Headline: Installation of ASHP, Solar PV and Battery storage into 28 properties in rural villages
Project Description:
This project installed clean heating and microgeneration to 28 properties in Standburn, Torwood, South Alloa and Blackness across Falkirk Council.
The properties, which were of mixed archetype, received an ASHP, solar PV and battery storage.
The project estimated that fuel bills were reduced by half for tenants and thermal comfort was significantly improved.
Project Title: Rural Stirling Off-gas Electrification of Heat
Project Organisation: Rural Stirling Housing Association
Technology Type(s): ASHP, Solar PV and Battery Storage
Location(s): Aberfoyle, Stirling Council
Grant Value: £486,357
Completion Date: July 2022
Project Headline: Providing clean heating to 30 properties in Aberfoyle
Project Description:
The project focused on renewable microgeneration generation and electrification of heat with a holistic whole energy systems approach. 30 social rented properties around Aberfoyle received various energy efficiency measures, which varied depending on the property size and archetype.
The low carbon solution replaced a range of inefficient heating systems including solid fuel (coal) back boilers, electric panel heaters and electric storage heaters. The project was successful in reducing energy consumptions, carbon emissions, energy bills for tenants as well as improving thermal comfort in the homes.
The project’s aim was to address the problem of decarbonising heat in smaller, hard to treat domestic properties and accelerated the decarbonisation of heating in off gas properties.
Project Title: 107 Niddrie Road Project
Project Organisation: Southside Housing Association
Technology Type(s): ASHP
Location(s): Glasgow, Glasgow City Council
Grant Value: £128,617.64
Completion Date: July 2022
Project Headline: Retrofit of 8 tenement flats to Passive Haus (EnerPHit) standard
Project Description:
This project applied EnerPHit principles to the retrofit of 8 pre-1919 sandstone tenements in the south side of Glasgow.
All 8 flats were acquired by Southside Housing Association and provided a unique opportunity to progress a deep retrofit in pre-1919 tenements. The project aimed to assess the scalability and replicability and share lessons learned for Scotland’s wider pre-1919 tenement stock.
The project saw the installation of insulation and air tightness measures alongside triple glazed windows. ASHPs were installed in the 4 lower story flats with the upper 4 flats remaining on gas, with the project collecting data about how they compare. Wastewater heat recovery systems were also installed to capture and recycle the heat in water from baths, showers and the kitchen sink alongside mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.
To learn wider lessons for tenement retrofit, the project was evaluated by a research partnership resourced by the Scottish Funding Council.
Project Title: Clydebank Housing Association - Queen's Quay District Heating Network Extension
Project Organisation: Clydebank Housing Association
Technology Type(s): District Heating Extension
Location(s): Clydebank, Glasgow City Council
Grant Value: £410,601
Completion Date: March 2024
Project Headline: The connection of 46 Social Houses on Dumbarton Road, Clydebank to the Queens Quay District Heating Network
Project Description:
This project was designed to directly tackle fuel poverty within the properties as well as increase tenancy sustainability. The properties previous storage heating system resulted in high energy bills with a number of tenants reporting that they choose not to use the system at all due the affordability.
The properties were connected to the district heating system set up for the Queen’s Quay development. This district heating system creates clean heat from the River Clyde and will allow Clydebank HA to tackle fuel poverty and minimise the carbon footprint of properties connected to it with regards to heating regimes. Properties had previously undergone insulation works (Cavity, Loft, Solid Wall Insulation) prior to considering heating replacement.
This project aimed to tackle fuel poverty and positively impacted the wellbeing of tenants through being able to heat their homes throughout the day, providing both physical and mental health benefits.