Scottish Water invests £9m in solar power projects

Scottish Water has pledged £9 million to fund solar power projects across all of its sites over the next three years.

The deal was set up by subsidiary Scottish Water Horizons, and will reduce the company’s carbon emissions as well as cutting costs.

Scottish Water Horizons head Andrew Macdonald said: “Through use of technologies such as solar panels, several of our water works can now generate at least all – and in some cases more – of the energy they need to operate.

“Not only does this benefit Scottish Water but it contributes to national renewable energy targets. We’re pleased to be working with experts in the sector to improve our provision of renewable energy and help maintain Scottish Water’s place as one of the best value providers of water in the UK.”

Scottish Water Horizons received 45 expressions of interest in the contract and 17 companies submitted their bids in the battle for full tender.

It was eventually awarded to four successful contractors – Absolute Solar and Wind, FES, Saliis, and Styles and Wood.

The framework will run for an initial period of one year with two further one-year extensions, in order to take advantage of falling technology costs and to provide some security from the insecurity of the PV market.

The ongoing work of Horizons has allowed Scottish Water to reduce its base electricity consumption by more than 5 per cent since 2010.

Total carbon emissions have fallen by 18 per cent since 2006/07 and renewable energy generation has doubled since 2013 to more than 50GWh.

Scottish Water now has 26 sites with hydro turbines, which harness the natural flow of water through pipes to produce electricity. It also generates renewable power through 18 wind-powered sites, 24 solar farms and two biomass plants.

A food waste recycling plant near Cumbernauld, owned by Scottish Water Horizons, generates enough bio-gas to power 2,000 homes.