Swedish energy company set to provide low-carbon heating for Midlothian homes

Vattenfall Heat UK (part of Swedish energy company Vattenfall AB) and Midlothian Council celebrated their Joint Venture known as Midlothian Energy Limited (MEL) at the National Mining Museum of Scotland in Newtongrange. Prior to the event, a section of the district heating pipe was signed by the organisations making this project happen, before it was laid in the trench.

The Joint Venture aims to regenerate and decarbonise Midlothian by supplying low-carbon heat, through a network of underground pipes to newly built homes, which are being built in a former coal mining area. The event was attended by key stakeholders, all playing a role in the future decarbonisation and regeneration of the area.

The initial phase of the network, which will supply around 3,000 homes, education and retail properties at Shawfair Town, will be powered by waste heat from the Millerhill Recycling and Energy Recovery Centre an energy from waste plant operated by FCC Environment.

This initial supply of heat will be the catalyst for a wider regional network stretching into south Edinburgh and East Lothian. The Shawfair development is a key feature of the Midlothian Energy Limited 5-year business plan to supply low-carbon heat to over 30,000 households and progress a variety of other energy projects.

During the expansion of the district heating network, heat will be taken from other waste heat sources, including heat from the local mine workings.

The coal mines once supplied the energy and raw materials that powered industry in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the fuel to heat domestic properties. Once coal mines have closed and the pumps are stopped, they fill with water which is heated through natural geothermal processes.

Vattenfall Heat UK have employed Scottish company FES Group to deliver the low-carbon heating at Shawfair Town, a development overseen by Shawfair LLP, in the north of the Midlothian Council area. This will be Vattenfall’s first heat project in Scotland and Midlothian Energy Limited’s flagship project. A large section of the 4km pipes have already been installed.

Heat is expected to be delivered to homes by June 2024.The initial phase of the network is expected to save over 2,500 tonnes of CO2 per year, the equivalent of taking 1,200 cars off the road. The project will benefit from up to £7.3m² from the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transformation Project (LCITP).

Jenny Curtis, managing director at Vattenfall Heat UK said: “Without the rapid deployment of heat networks at scale it is simply not possible for Scotland to reach its ambitious net zero by 2045 targets.

“Using waste heat from sources like energy from waste plants and mine workings is a no-brainer. The heat is already there, all we need is the urgent deployment of low-carbon heating infrastructure to capture it and supply it to local residents and businesses.”

Steve Longdon, chief executive officer for FCC Environment said: “Since 2019 the Millerhill recycling and energy recovery centre (RERC) has been converting non-recyclable household and business waste into heat and power. The plant was developed by us alongside

“The City of Edinburgh Council and Midlothian Council to help them divert 155,000 tonnes of waste from landfill each year and the facility is a key component in the Councils’ combined commitment to helping to reach the Scottish Government’s Zero Waste target.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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