Scotland’s first dedicated district heating education centre has been established at the Energy Training Academy (ETA) in Edinburgh. 

A purpose-built conference and events facility, the Heat Network Suite is a dedicated area which will be used to help educate people on the benefits of district heat networks.

Located on the second floor of the academy, the 1800 sq. ft. suite can accommodate more than 60 people and is the last piece of the ETA jigsaw, launching nearly three years after the doors opened for the first time in Dalkeith on the outskirts of the capital. 

It complements the high-quality training in the gas and renewables industry already available at the state-of-the-art education centre.

In conjunction with primary sponsors Vattenfall Heat UK (part of Swedish energy company Vattenfall AB), London-based integrated facilities management specialists OCS and heat network experts SAV Systems, the suite focuses on district heating networks throughout Scotland. 

Given the proximity to the academy of Shawfair, Midlothian’s newest town with more than 3,000 homes and one million square feet of commercial space on the south-east side of Edinburgh, this is one area which is set to benefit immediately.

Midlothian Energy Ltd (MEL), a joint venture between Midlothian Council and Vattenfall Heat UK, is installing a District Heating Network to Shawfair, bringing low carbon heat to the area. MEL is delivering the heating, saving over 2,500 tonnes of CO2 per year, the equivalent of taking 1,200 cars off the road.

Heat that would otherwise be wasted will be captured by Midlothian Energy Ltd from Millerhill Recycling and Energy Recovery Centre (RERC), then transported via a network of underground pipes to provide a low-carbon source of heating and hot water for properties.

Welcoming the launch of the Heat Network Suite, academy co-founder Andrew Lamond said: “It’s going to be a really exciting space, the first of its kind in Scotland. 

The space is designed to bring people together and accelerate the uptake of District Heating Networks across Scotland. We want to host events and workshops that bring local authorities together with academics, contractors and manufacturers. 

Heat Networks isn’t a new technology in Scotland, but a lot of people don’t know much (if anything) about them. This space within the academy is designed to educate policy makers, home owners, town planners and the key stakeholders on the benefits and opportunities within district heating.”

He added: “Eventually, we’d like to have a live feed from the Waste to Energy centre at Millerhill that shows, in real time, how much energy is being generated. It’s the ideal way for getting all the partners in the Vattenfall supply chain a presence in Midlothian and sharing their message about the journey they have been on.

We will be engaging with local authorities, various stakeholders from town planners to school pupils, homeowners and tenants to help them learn how this all works. The suite will be a flexible space allowing us to have product launches, business networking events and employability events for schools – really enhancing our community offering.”

Other key sponsors involved in the project are: PPSL District Heating (Bolton), Therma Mech (Bristol), Elevate Everywhere (London), CPC Civils (Solihull), ISOPLUS (Lincolnshire) and R3 (Wallyford).

Andrew said: “We would like to thank all the sponsors involved for their backing and support. District heating is going to play a big part in Scotland’s decarbonisation plans as evidenced by the local heat and energy efficiency strategies commissioned by the local authorities. 

It’s going to be an alternative to air source heat pumps and gas boilers, and particularly handy for areas with high rise flats and built-up areas where heat pumps are not realistic. It’s estimated that as much as 40% of Scottish homes could be on a heat network by 2045.

Consequently, there is going to be an increasing demand for skilled engineers in district heat networks and the plan is to deliver the appropriate training at the academy to upskill the next wave of engineers in this sector.”

Ben Carter, Account Director, Vattenfall said: “To expand the MEL heat network and scale up heat networks across Scotland, we need skilled people who can build, maintain and operate these systems. That’s why the Heat Network Suite is so vital. It offers local talent the chance to learn new skills and begin a career in an industry with long-term prospects.”