Friday December 20th 2024
Left to right at the recent opening of the new energy centre are: Stuart Allison (Vattenfall); Council Leader Kelly Parry (Midlothian Council); Eoghan Maguire (Vattenfall); Chief Executive Grace Vickers (Midlothian Council); Gordon Pollock (Midlothian Council).
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Luke Jackson
Councillors have endorsed an updated five-year business plan for Midlothian Energy Limited (MEL), a joint venture between the council and Vattenfall Heat UK (part of Swedish energy company Vattenfall AB).
The plan to develop low carbon energy projects valued at £145 million, includes a new flagship energy centre which opened in November.
Once connected, the MEL Energy Centre will capture low carbon heat from the Millerhill Recycling and Energy Recovery Centre – an energy from waste plant operated by FCC Environment. The new MEL Energy Centre will then use this captured heat to supply around 3,000 homes, education and retail properties at the new town at Shawfair.
At the full Council meeting on Tuesday, councillors heard the plan includes expanding the MEL heat network, which benefitted from a £7.3 million Scottish Government grant into existing buildings in Midlothian and into Edinburgh.
Much of 2025 will be focused on delivering low carbon heating to the area around Little France, including the University of Edinburgh’s Bioquarter area in the south of Edinburgh.
MEL, which has also launched a package of community education benefits, will also be working with the council’s Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Team to identify heat network opportunity zones in Midlothian.
Council Leader Councillor Kelly Parry said: “We’re making significant progress in delivering these ambitious green energy projects, which will be vital in helping us meet our net zero targets while keeping jobs and revenue from heat decarbonisation projects within the Midlothian economy.”
Ian Meyer, Vattenfall’s Interim Director of Heat Networks in Scotland said:
“Vattenfall’s collaborative partnership with Midlothian Council underscores our shared commitment to deliver a sustainable future, local jobs and opportunities, and provide residents with a convenient and simple way to heat their homes.”
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