The £250m Queen’s Quay regeneration project in Clydebank will use water from the Clyde to help heat a mix of residential, commercial and public buildings via 5MW of heat pumps and a district heat network.
Two 2.5MW water source heat pumps will take heat from the river to reduce the amount of power required to provide heat and hot water for buildings connected to the 2.5km heat network.
Vital Energi is managing the £15m heat project and says it is the largest of its kind to date in Scotland.
Ops manager Scott Lutton said he hopes other local authorities will take note of the project for their own district heating and broader decarbonisation plans.
Once completed, the the network will provide heating and hot water to existing buildings including West College Scotland, Clydebank Library, Clydebank Leisure Centre and the Council office campus as well as around 1,200 homes.
Councillor Iain McLaren, convener of infrastructure, regeneration and economic development, said it would have “a hugely positive impact on Queens Quay and Clydebank as a whole”. He added that the council plans to expand the network to address fuel poverty in Clydebank and Dalmuir.
Councillor Marie McNair, vice convener of infrastructure, regeneration and economic development, said locals “will see the benefits of this pioneering project for generations to come.
“The system has been designed to not only serve the developments at Queens Quay but has the potential to serve businesses and houses further afield,” she added.
“It will also make a major contribution towards the Council’s climate change targets to reduce CO2 emissions.”
Local firm Star Renewables Energy is delivering the heat pumps.
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