SCOTLAND’S first dedicated district heating education centre has been established at the Energy Training Academy (ETA) in Dalkeith.
A purpose-built conference and events facility, the Heat Network Suite will be used to help educate people on the benefits of district heat networks.
Located on the second floor of the academy, the 1,800 sq. ft. suite can accommodate more than 60 people and is described as the final piece of the ETA jigsaw, launching nearly three years after the doors opened. It complements training in the gas and renewables industry already available at the 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 tipped 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. 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.
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.
“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: PPS District Heating (Bolton), Therma Mech (Bristol), Elevate Everywhere (London), CPC Civils (Solihull), ISOPLUS (Lincolnshire) and R3 (Wallyford).
