€2 million funding to accelerate Scotland district heating uptake

Scotland is to benefit from a share of €2 million EU funding to further develop heat networks throughout Scotland. The project is in collaboration with 16 partners across 12 European countries and will support 23 cities and regions to map their local heating and cooling demand.

The Scottish Government, with support from Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation and the Scottish Cities Alliance, will provide developers with an opportunity learn directly from some of Europe’s leading researchers in low carbon. They will also gain practical insight from some of Europe’s most experienced cities and regions on deployment of low carbon heating and cooling solutions.

Commenting on the project Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: “This funding and project is a great opportunity to work with other European countries and use their experience to accelerate the uptake of district heating in Scotland. District heating has a key part to play in our aim to largely decarbonise the heat sector by 2050. The Heat Generation Policy Statement, which will be published on the 4 March, will set out the Scottish Government’s approach to largely decarbonising our heat system, diversifying our sources of heat, reducing pressure on household energy bills and maximising the economic opportunities of the transition to a low carbon heat sector.

“We will set out the Scottish Government’s approach to decarbonising our heat system, diversifying our sources of heat, reducing pressure on household energy bills and maximising the economic opportunities of the transition to a low carbon heat sector for consultation in our Heat Generation Policy Statement.

“The Scottish European Green Energy Centre (SEGEC) were instrumental in securing this €2 million funding which will support Scottish Government policy to meet our world leading climate change targets for 2020.” Maggie McGinlay, Director, Energy and Clean Technologies also added: “Helping Scotland respond to the economic opportunity around low carbon is a key priority for Scottish Enterprise. We are delighted, that yet again, SEGEC’s expertise in facilitating access to EU funding and opportunities has successfully resulted in the Scottish Government’s entry into the project.”

DBDH is organizing a district heating sector visit to Scotland in April. See more

Source: news.scotland.gov.uk