A waste centre at Polmadie could provide heat to Hampden Park, a hospital, homes and schools, a study has found.
Plans for a heat network using the Glasgow Recycling and Renewable Energy Centre on Polmadie Road could make “substantial inroads” into reducing carbon emissions in the area.
A feasibility study found a network is “technically and economically viable”, council officials have reported. They added the proposal is “commercially attractive enough to engage the private sector’s interest”.
It could cost around £24 million to build out the network.
READ MORE: Heat networks are investment opportunity ‘worth billions’ – energy company boss
The report added carbon emissions analysis suggests a 81% reduction is achievable through development of the network, relative to “the continued operation of existing heating systems”.
“These savings are estimated with gas boiler back-up over a 40-year assessment period.”
A council spokesman said: “How we heat our homes and other buildings is one of the big challenges we face as the city tackles the causes of climate change.
“But this study shows conclusively that heat produced by the GRREC can be used to warm buildings across a wide area on Glasgow’s southside.”
“The heat that comes from household waste processed at the GRREC is fully renewable and would make substantial inroads on the carbon emissions from the buildings in this heat zone area.”
The study on a Polmadie district heat network was carried out by consulting engineering firm Buro Happold. It was hoped it would build “confidence that district heat networks are technically and economically viable in locations across the city”.
A council report stated energy from waste is “a source of heat that’s recognised as being relatively low cost (in comparison to other low carbon heat sources), and this can act as a catalyst for heat network development if there is high heat demand density in the local area”.
It added: “A potential benefit to the GRREC is that heat generation from the waste resource is significantly more efficient than electrical generation, therefore heat supply to a network could significantly improve the overall energy efficiency of the facility.”
An image included in the report shows a pipe network linked to Hampden Park, the New Victoria Hospital, Langside Library, Holyrood Secondary School, Cathcart Police Station, Toryglen Regional Football Centre, Glasgow Clyde College, Mount Florida Primary School and two blocks of flats.
The feasibility report proposed that “heat exchange equipment for the EfW supply be sited on the GRREC site, with an energy centre building, housing back-up boilers and thermal storage, on adjacent GCC land”.
READ MORE: Denmark has the solution to Scotland's heating problems
Council officials added there is “good alignment between the specific heat source at GRREC considered and the demand identified within the core cluster”.
The council spokesman said: “The possibility of a district heating network sourced from the GRREC can also help to attract inward investment and create the infrastructure that can support the push for net zero.
“The GRREC produces reliable heat and this study shows investors should be confident of a return on any investment.
“We are at an early stage with this initiative but we have grounds for optimism that using energy from waste to heat homes and other buildings is realistic and achievable.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel