Work has started on a £7.1 million project to build Scotland’s first ‘fifth generation’ heating network at the country's manufacturing innovation district in Renfrewshire.

It works by directing water normally headed for the White Cart river into a new energy centre being built at a Scottish Water site in Paisley.

Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy Kate Forbes was at the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) to help lower the first pipes of the renewable energy network into position.

Producing 90% less carbon emissions than traditional gas boilers, the highly sustainable system will provide heating and hot water to the major manufacturers and research centres based at AMIDS.

Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy Kate Forbes

on site visit with partners in £7.1m project

There, low temperature heat is extracted then distributed through 3.7kilometres of underground pipes, before being upgraded by low carbon heat pumps into heating and hot water at each of the district businesses.

This includes supplying the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) operated by the University of Strathclyde and the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, CPI, two major research and development facilities opening next year.

The £7.1million project is being funded by Renfrewshire Council and by the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme.

Installing the new network will offer another reason for advanced manufacturing companies to choose to locate to AMIDS, the district also confirmed as the home of the NMIS Metallics Research Centre with Boeing, delivering an £11.8million R&D project part-funded by Scottish Enterprise.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson said:

“AMIDS acts as a magnet for advanced manufacturing companies to locate to Scotland and tap into the incredible innovation and skills expertise at the research centres based here, so it’s fitting that a place of innovation will be served by this innovative low carbon heating system.

“Not only will it provide a cost-effective, green option for the businesses it serves, it will demonstrate the potential of the technology for others to follow suit and supports our pledge in Renfrewshire to be carbon neutral by 2030.”

Alan Scott, Scottish Water’s Finance director, commented:

“There is absolutely no doubt that impressive projects which deliver low carbon technology solutions like this are the future. That future is a sustainable one where value from waste is recognised and reused to the benefit of many, and where we are working to reduce emissions to achieve our collective net zero ambitions.

“We treat and recycle more than 1 billion litres of waste water a day across the country. Using innovative approaches to extract and use energy from treatment processes and infrastructure to be converted into low carbon heat shows what can be done. We’re delighted to be part of this scheme and look forward to getting involved in other opportunities to maximise the value from Scotland’s waste water.”

Detailed work to develop the concept and secure funding has been taking place over the last two years, Buro Happold leading its design with support from Scottish Water Horizons, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Futures Trust and Zero Waste Scotland.