The neighborhood of Torry in Aberdeen, Scotland will soon receive a community heat network that has the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions along with and providing affordable heat for consumers.
The Torry Heat Network will be capable of supplying up to 800 homes and a new school and community hub. The heat will be supplied by energy from a near-by waste plant that disposes of non-recyclable waste collected from the surrounding area. The main heat distribution pipes from the waste plant will be routed underneath a railway line to connect with the existing heating network in Torry.
Zero Carbon Buildings Minister, Patrick Harvie stated: “Heat networks or communal heat systems will have a growing role in helping us move away from fossil fuel heating by 2045 whilst reducing fuel poverty by supplying heat at affordable prices to consumers. The Torry Heat Network shows the potential for decarbonising existing urban buildings, including hard-to-treat granite tenements. We believe we can meet up to 30% of our overall heat demand from heat networks, which is why our Heat in Buildings consultation includes measures to encourage their growth, giving developers and local authorities the confidence to invest on the basis that they know the demand will be there.”
The project is funded by a £8.9m Scottish Government grant from Scotland’s Heat Network Fund, which is making £300m available to support the rollout of heat networks throughout the country.
“We welcome the Scotland’s Heat Network Fund grant towards the new Torry Heat Network as the project will bring low-cost heat to tenants’ homes and public buildings. The network will help people with fuel poverty providing them with the low-cost energy that they need in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis,” said Aberdeen City Council co-leader Christian Allard.