Additional £145m for Scottish heat network project • Construction begins on new biogas facility • £75m to build new city-wide heat network • Read more about the developments in sustainable heating and cooling in this month's news update from the UK
Midlothian Energy Limited (MEL), a joint venture between Midlothian Council and Vattenfall Heat UK, has launched a new £145 million five-year business plan. This includes the recent launch of a new energy centre supplying heat to around 3.000 homes, schools, and retail properties in the new town of Shawfair.
The MEL Energy Centre will harness waste heat from the nearby Millerhill Recycling and Energy Recovery Centre, an energy-from-waste facility operated by FCC Environment. This heat will then be distributed to homes and businesses through an expanding heat network, providing a greener alternative to traditional gas boilers. The network has received a £7.3 million grant from the Scottish Government, enabling further expansion into existing buildings in Midlothian and extending into neighboring city Edinburgh, including the University of Edinburgh’s BioQuarter in the south of the city.
Looking ahead, much of 2025 will focus on extending the heat network to the Little France area of Edinburgh, with the long-term vision of making Midlothian a model for low-carbon urban energy solutions. Through these efforts, the council and its partners are laying the foundation for a greener, more sustainable future for Midlothian.
Read more in article from Midlothian View
Work has commenced on a £15.6m anaerobic digestion facility in Dorset that will transform local food waste into renewable energy and bio-fertiliser. This innovative project, led by Eco Sustainable Solutions, marks the company’s largest venture in its 29-year history and is a major step toward achieving regional sustainability goals.
The facility will process over 50.000 tonnes of food waste annually and produce around 60GWh of biomethane each year, enough to supply the energy needs of 5.300 medium-sized homes. The biomethane generated will be fed directly into the local gas grid, providing a greener energy supply for households and businesses.
The project received a £8.7m investment from Lombard and Hurn-based Mildren Construction has been appointed as the main contractor for the project, which is expected to be completed by January 2026. Once operational, the facility will create five new jobs, boosting the local economy.
Read more in article from The Business Desk
The city of Bradford, together with 1Energy, is taking a bold step toward decarbonisation with the launch of the Bradford Energy Network. The project will use heat pumps to produce green heating for public sector buildings, e.g. The University of Bradford, Bradford College, and Bradford Courts.
The project’s £75 million funding combines private capital and £20 million from the UK Government’s Green Heat Network Fund, creating a model for other cities to follow in achieving net-zero targets. With the excavation work already underway, the network will soon replace traditional gas boilers, reducing the council’s carbon footprint by 80% in the first phase alone.
As Bradford continues its journey toward becoming a net-zero city, the project will create local jobs, boost the economy, and solidify the city’s status as a sustainability leader. The initiative is estimated to eliminate over 29.000 tonnes of CO₂, equivalent to removing over 21.000 cars from the road.
Inspired by the advancements in Bradford, other cities such as Exeter and Milton Keynes, are now in discussions with 1Energy to expand similar networks.
Read more in article from Heating & Ventilation Review
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