Scottish Water has completed a 636,000 solar project which will help pump water to thousands of customers in South Ayrshire.

Photo: Aerial shot of Gorbals Pumping Station showing PV panels

The scheme, which will help save 78 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year, has seen 793 roof and ground mounted solar panels installed at the Gorbals water pumping station, as well as on top of the neighbouring large drinking water tank.

The panels are expected to generate 0.39GWh of energy annually which will meet almost 17% of the site’s power needs.

Scottish Water Horizons Project Manager Pauline Donnelly said:

"We're very pleased that work is now complete on this project at Gorbals water pumping station and nearby drinking water tank, meaning the process of moving our clean fresh, water from Milngavie Water Treatment Works to customers' taps is now less carbon intensive.

"In order to meet our 2040 net zero targets, renewables projects such as these are key to making the processes we rely on for our water and waste water services greener. In the past three years, Scottish Water has installed 14.4GWh of solar energy across its sites, in addition to 9.6GWh over the previous 12 years."

Local Scottish Water Operations Team Leader Gavin McBride said:

"Pumping water along our network involves high pressures and is an energy intensive process, so it makes a real difference that some of the power we are using to do that is now coming from renewable sources.

“The scheme will also see some renewable energy being sold back to the national grid that can be accessed in the local area."

Biodiversity measures such the removal of invasive non-native species, alongside native hedgerow and wildflower planting, will also be implemented at the site, helping to protect and enhance local habitats.