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Wastewater heat recovery joint venture agreed in Scotland

Sharc Energy Systems and Scottish Water Horizons have launched a joint venture to accelerate the deployment of heat recovery systems across Scotland.

The joint venture covers the installation and maintenance of a number of green energy projects currently in the advanced stages of planning. These projects are focused on producing heat from wastewater.

Previously, Sharc and Scottish Water Horizons collaborated on the creation of a sewage heat recovery system at Borders College in Galashiels. This facility aims to displace 1.8GWh (gigawatt hours) of natural gas and save more than 150 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

Sharc’s system intercepts wastewater from sewers and uses heat pump technology to amplify the natural warmth of wastewater. According to the company, this generates ‘an energy-saving, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly system for heating, cooling and hot water production in commercial and residential buildings’.

 

Low carbon transition

Under the new joint venture, Scottish Water Horizons will provide commercial funding for the new green energy projects, with Sharc providing the design, build and operational expertise.

The Scottish Government is backing the scheme with 50% grant capital support through its Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP). The new alliance is intended to support the Government’s renewable heat and carbon reduction targets for 2020.

The establishing of the joint venture is the culmination of three years of collaboration between Sharc and Scottish Water Horizons, which has created a £20 million pipeline of potential installations across Scotland that, when deployed, would generate 170GWh per year of heating and cooling to displace fossil fuels.

“This announcement is a very exciting step for Sharc and represents the culmination of three years of very productive working with Scottish Water Horizons to identify opportunities for the Sharc technology,” Russ Burton, Sharc’s chief operating officer said.

“Having the support from Scottish Water Horizons will give customers confidence in the SHARC technology, positioning it as a sustainable and viable wastewater heat recovery solution.

“With gas prices constantly fluctuating, our heat supply agreement gives cost certainty by guaranteeing the price for the length of the agreement.”

“Our alliance with Sharc provides us with a unique and exciting opportunity to maximise the residual heat that runs through some of Scottish Water’s 32,000 miles of sewer pipes”, said Paul Kerr, managing director, Scottish Water Horizons.

“Using this innovative technology we are able to roll out a sustainable, low-carbon heating solution to our customers, whilst enhancing and protecting the environment.“

 





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