Scottish Government
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€2 million funding to accelerate district heating uptake

Scotland is to benefit from a share of €2 million EU funding to further develop heat networks throughout Scotland. The project is in collaboration with 16 partners across 12 European countries and will support 23 cities and regions to map their local heating and cooling demand.

The Scottish Government, with support from Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation and the Scottish Cities Alliance, will provide developers with an opportunity learn directly from some of Europe’s leading researchers in low carbon. They will also gain practical insight from some of Europe’s most experienced cities and regions on deployment of low carbon heating and cooling solutions.

Commenting on the project Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said:

“This funding and project is a great opportunity to work with other European countries and use their experience to accelerate the uptake of district heating in Scotland. District heating has a key part to play in our aim to largely decarbonise the heat sector by 2050. The Heat Generation Policy Statement, which will be published on the 4 March, will set out the Scottish Government’s approach to largely decarbonising our heat system, diversifying our sources of heat, reducing pressure on household energy bills and maximising the economic opportunities of the transition to a low carbon heat sector.

“We will set out the Scottish Government's approach to decarbonising our heat system, diversifying our sources of heat, reducing pressure on household energy bills and maximising the economic opportunities of the transition to a low carbon heat sector for consultation in our Heat Generation Policy Statement.

“The Scottish European Green Energy Centre (SEGEC) were instrumental in securing this €2 million funding which will support Scottish Government policy to meet our world leading climate change targets for 2020.”

Maggie McGinlay, Director, Energy and Clean Technologies also added:

"Helping Scotland respond to the economic opportunity around low carbon is a key priority for Scottish Enterprise. We are delighted, that yet again, SEGEC’s expertise in facilitating access to EU funding and opportunities has successfully resulted in the Scottish Government’s entry into the project.”

Notes to editors

  • ‘Maximising the opportunities for Scotland from district heating and largely decarbonising the heat system’ will be debated in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, March 6 2014.
  • STRATEGO will begin in early 2014 and last 32 months. It has a total budget of €2 million, of which the European commission will provide €1.5 million (75%). The project is a collaboration with 16 partners across 12 European countries: Belgium, Austria, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Poland and the UK. STRATEGO will support 23 cities/regions in 9 target countries, including the UK, to map their local heating and cooling demand and supply and to define areas of priority for intervention.
  • The Heat Generation Policy Statement consultation will be published on Tuesday March 4 2014.
  • SEGEC was established in 2009 in recognition of the economic, social and environmental opportunities offered by the low-carbon energy sector. Our mission is to help Scotland exploit its significant potential in this sector by encouraging stronger engagement at a European and international level and by facilitating access to EU funding set aside for demonstration and deployment projects.
  • Previously supported by the Scottish Government, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Scottish Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE), ScottishPower and SSE, SEGEC have facilitated over €150M of funding and investment for Scottish Low-Carbon demonstration and deployment projects. In July 2013, the SEGEC team was integrated into Scottish Enterprise support the continued and future success for the team and its engagement in Europe for the benefit of the Renewable Technologies sector in Scotland.

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