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Published in: Wind, Press Releases
SSE Energy Solutions and Scottish Water Horizons have today announced a new strategic partnership to develop low-carbon district heat networks across Scotland, accelerating the country's journey toward net zero.
Under the agreement, the organisations will collaborate to identify, develop and deliver innovative heating solutions that harness the untapped potential of wastewater by capturing thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted, creating a sustainable heat source for local communities and businesses while helping to address one of Scotland's biggest decarbonisation challenges.
A first project has been identified for development in Inverness, where a Scottish Water pumping station will provide a sustainable heat source for a network serving several buildings, including local SSE and Scottish Water Offices and facilities, and other private and public sector buildings in the area.
Beyond reducing carbon emissions, the partnership aims to create opportunities for local supply chains and skills development in the growing heat networks sector, supporting Scotland's just transition to a low-carbon economy.
Decarbonising heat, which currently accounts for 37% of the UK's CO2 emissions, is a crucial component in meeting the country's ambitious net zero targets. Heat networks are projected to meet up to 20% of the UK's heat demand by 2050, according to recent government figures.
Ross McClory, Head of Business Development for Industrial and Commercial at SSE Energy Solutions, said:
"This partnership with Scottish Water Horizons represents a significant step forward in Scotland's heat decarbonisation journey. By combining our expertise in sustainable energy solutions with Scottish Water Horizons' experience in recovering heat from wastewater, we're creating powerful opportunities to deliver low-carbon heating across Scotland.
"Our joint project in Inverness is just the beginning of what we expect to be a productive collaboration that will help communities and businesses across Scotland transition to cleaner, more sustainable heating solutions while supporting the country's net zero ambitions."
Donald MacBrayne, Business Development Manager at Scottish Water Horizons, said:
"Scottish Water Horizons is committed to unlocking the hidden value in our infrastructure to help decarbonise Scotland's heat supply. Having already delivered and facilitated the UK's first five heat from wastewater schemes, we have seen first-hand how effective this technology can be in delivering low carbon energy.
"The Inverness project is another step forward in using innovative approaches to support businesses and communities in reducing their carbon footprint. By partnering with SSE Energy Solutions, we can extend the reach of this technology and help drive Scotland's transition to sustainable heat."
The partnership aligns with the Scottish Government's Heat Networks Delivery Plan, which identifies heat networks as a strategic priority for meeting Scotland's climate targets. The Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021 sets ambitious targets for heat networks to deliver 2.6TWh of thermal energy by 2027 and 6TWh by 2030. Building on their initial focus in Inverness, SSE Energy Solutions and Scottish Water Horizons expect to announce further projects across Scotland as heat network zoning is implemented by local authorities throughout 2025 and beyond.
For more information, please contact:
SSE Energy Solutions: Steven Herd, steven@hottinroof.co.uk
Scottish Water Horizons: Jenny Ross, jenny.ross@scottishwater.co.uk
About SSE plc, the UK and Ireland's clean energy champion
SSE's purpose is to provide the energy needed today while building a better world of energy for tomorrow. We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in world-class electricity infrastructure that is vital to the clean energy transition. This includes onshore and offshore wind farms, hydro, electricity transmission and distribution networks, flexible generation, carbon capture and hydrogen storage, solar and batteries, as well as providing energy products and services for businesses and other customers.
A FTSE-100 company headquartered in the UK; SSE has positioned itself at the heart of the clean energy transition with one of the largest investment programmes in the FTSE-100. Under SSE's Net Zero Acceleration Programme (NZAP) Plus, we are investing £20.5bn in mission-critical clean power infrastructure over the next five years to 2027.
About Scottish Water Horizons
Scottish Water Horizons Ltd is a commercial subsidiary wholly owned by Scottish Water. The company plays a key role in supporting the development of Scotland's sustainable and circular economy by unlocking the value of the public utility's vast infrastructure and assets.
As part of its commitment to decarbonisation, Scottish Water Horizons has been at the forefront of innovative low carbon energy solutions, having already delivered and facilitated the UK's first five heat from wastewater schemes. By harnessing renewable energy opportunities, the company is helping to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to Scotland's net zero ambitions.
The company's growth strategy is aligned with Scotland's vision as a developing Hydro Nation, focusing on opportunities to leverage Scottish Water's asset base to support sustainability. This is achieved through both in-house development and collaborations with public and private sector partners, ensuring that infrastructure is used efficiently to drive environmental and economic benefits.
