A feasibility study has indicated that Glasgow‘s household waste could be used to generate heat for buildings on the city’s southside.
The potential district heat network would serve areas including Hampden Park, New Victoria Hospital, local schools, a police station, other public facilities and homes.
The Glasgow Recycling and Renewable Energy Centre (GRREC) in Polmadie, operated by Viridor for Glasgow City Council, currently produces enough electricity to power up to 26,000 homes by converting household waste into fuel.
The heat generated in this process could provide low carbon heating to areas such as Mount Florida, Toryglen, Battlefield and Govanhill.
The study estimates a £24.1 million investment is needed to build the pipe network and facilities required for the heating system.
The proposed system could reduce carbon emissions from domestic heating by 81%, even with backup gas boilers.
Over a 40-year period, the network could prevent over 160,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
The feasibility study is part of Glasgow’s Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy, which identified 21 zones in the city with potential for viable district heating systems.
Options for these systems include using natural heat from the River Clyde, deep geothermal wells, and the city’s waste water system.
Councillor Angus Millar, City Convener for Climate, 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.”
