Scottish energy minister outlines district heating ambitions

Scottish energy minister Fergus Ewing has announced that district heating will ‘play a major part’ in decarbonising heat across Scotland.

Mr Ewing told conference attendees at the Association for Decentralised Energy’s annual district heating conference in Edinburgh: “We want to make significant progress by 2020 towards our low carbon future to ensure Scotland is a leading low carbon investment destination. Our ambition is for 40,000 houses to be connected by 2020.”

More than 100 delegates from local authorities, investment firms, and heat network suppliers attended the conference.

ADE director Tim Rotheray welcomed the Minister’s remarks, saying: “The role which district heating could play in reducing fuel poverty and emissions in Scottish towns and cities is clear.

“We are delighted with the Scottish Government’s district heating ambitions and its move to progress policy to ensure their ambition can be turned into reality, putting communities in control of their energy costs.”

“The depth of Scottish support for district heating demonstrates real leadership.”

Source: COSPP