Scottish Water to cut costs and emissions with £9m solar energy plan
appointed four contractors to develop, design and install solar panels at the sites.
The work will be carried out by Absolute Solar & Wins, FES, Saliis and Styles & Wood. Those contractors emerged after Scottish Water Horizons received 17 bids and 45 expressions of interest during the tender process.
Scottish Water Horizons said the work will initially take place over one year, followed by two one-year extensions, in order to take advantage of falling technology costs and limit exposure to uncertainty in the PV (photovoltaic) market.
Andrew Macdonald, head of Scottish Water Horizons, declared that the investment highlights its “commitment to reducing energy costs and ultimately keeping bills as low as possible for customers”.
Mr Macdonald said: “Through use of technologies such as solar panels, several of our water works can now generate at least all – and insomecasesmore–oftheenergy 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 said it has reduced its base electricity consumption by more than five per cent since 2010 because of work undertaken by its Scottish Water Horizons division.
It added that its total carbon emissions have dropped by 18 per cent since 2006/07, while its renewable energy has doubled to more than 50 GWH (gigawatt hours), the equivalent of powering 50 million washing machines, since 2013.
The utility produces electricity through 26 hydro turbine sites, 18 wind-powered sites and two biomass plants.
It also generates sufficient bio-gas to power 2,000 homes through a Scottish Water Horizonsowned food waste recycling plant near Cumbernauld.
Dunfermline-based Scottish Water last year won a Scottish Green Energy award for its success in expanding and diversifying its energy generation programme. THE team behind Edinburgh drinks brand Pickering’s have launched what is believed to be the world’s first social enterprise gin.
Pickering’s Gin founders Marcus Pickering and Matt Gammell have linked up with social enterprise entrepreneur Chris Thewlis, Dave Mullen of marketing agency Story and drinks industry export specialist David Moore, to develop the Ginerosity spirit.
Profits from sales are being directed to projects that help and support under-privileged or disadvantaged young people.
Supermarket listings are being targeted for the gin, which is distilled at Summerhall in Edinburgh, alongside independent bars and specialist off-licences.
Talks are also understood to be at an advanced stage with an online retailer.
Mr Pickering said: “Supporting good causes is something that’s very close to our hearts, and something we’ve been involved in for many years.
“But for a while we’ve wanted to do something more formal with our gin company. Producing this unique gin is the perfect way to achieve that.”
Ginerosity is the latest social enterprise to emerge in the Scottish drinks industry. It follows the Brewgooder venture launched by Alan Mahon and Josh Littlejohn which directs profits from the sale of beer into clean water projects around the world.
Mr Gammell said the recipe for Ginerosity has been developed to be accessible but complex, with responsibly sourced botanicals selected for its production.
The brand image has been created by Mr Mullen, who runs the Beer for Good social enterprise bar group, and his team at Story.
Mr Gammell said: “In the creation of Ginerosity we wanted to produce a gin that was both traditional in style while being smooth and refreshing as a gin and tonic.
“We have taken a range of 10 botanicals from the traditional juniper, lemon, lime and Angelica to the more unusual lemon myrtle and heather to create a superb gin of real character, which combines fresh citrus flavours with a gentle modern twist.”