Scottish Water has boosted its commitment to renewable energy with an investment to fund solar power projects over the next three years – four firms have been awarded contracts worth a total of £9 million.
Under the deal, set up by the utility’s subsidiary Scottish Water Horizons Ltd, four contractors are now lined up to develop, design and install solar panels - photovoltaic (PV) cells - at Scottish Water assets across the country.
Andrew Macdonald, Head of Scottish Water Horizons Ltd, said:
“This investment further demonstrates Scottish Water’s commitment to reducing energy costs and ultimately keeping bills as low as possible for customers.
“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 Ltd, whose experts coin new ways to make Scotland sustainable, 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 & Wind Ltd, FES Ltd, Saliis Ltd, and Styles & Wood Ltd.
In an effort to take advantage of falling technology costs, and to provide some security from the insecurity of the PV market, the framework will run for an initial period of one year with two further one year extensions.
The continued innovative work from Scottish Water Horizons Ltd has means parent company Scottish Water has reduced its base electricity consumption by more than five 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 over 50GWh.
Scottish Water now has 26 sites with hydro turbines that 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, while a food waste recycling plant near Cumbernauld, owned by the subsidiary, generates enough bio-gas to power 2,000 homes.
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