Page 27 - February 2024

IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

West Lothian
North Berwick
61% of homes in West Lothian have been
considered as suitable for heat pump
retrofitting. Just over 50,000 properties were
assessed as ‘highly suited’, while around
15,000 were deemed to be appropriately suited
following ‘moderate’ upgrades.

The West Lothian locations with the highest
number of properties suitable for heat pump East Lothian
installation are Winchburgh, Bridgend &
Philpstoun, Blackridge, Westfield & Torphichen East Lothian’s LHEES was deemed among
and Linlithgow South. the most impressive strategies submitted; it
won a Holyrood Climate Action award for its
West Lothian’s LHEES identified 14 potential innovative approach to the issues at hand.
heat network zones, including the areas around
Edinburgh
the following locations: Polkemmet Mine Water East Lothian already has 26 heating networks
Treatment Works; Bathgate’s Regal Theatre; that could potentially be decarbonised.
the Pyramids business park; Glen Turner Alongside this, a nearby heat network in
Edinburgh distillery; Livingston centre; Brucefield industrial Midlothian, designed to support Shawfair Town,
In its LHEES, Edinburgh City Council confirmed Heriot-Watt, Sighthill & Gyle, Ingliston, South park; West Calder High School; Dickson Court could also be exported to East Lothian.
the challenges faced in terms of upgrading Queensferry, and Second New Town. and Stewart Court in West Calder; Inveralmond
the city’s heating systems. 91% of homes in High School; Houston Industrial Estate; The LHEES estimates that heat network zones
Edinburgh are currently fuelled by gas, but A variety of heat sources have been identified Broxburn Library; Broxburn Xcite; and East could support 80% of homes in East Lothian,
that’s not all – 69% of Edinburgh homes are for ‘district heating’. These include taking heat Mains Industrial Estate. and 97% of the properties currently fuelled by
flats, and half of all homes in Edinburgh are from the sewers running beneath the city, gas. Proposals include a coastal heat network,
in mixed tenure buildings, which could cause water-source heat pumps taking heat from the based at the former Cockenzie Power Station,
issues when it comes to fitting heat pumps Firth of Forth or the Almond, heat from Seafield Linlithgow which would deliver heated water through an
or other equipment. Plus, 25% of Edinburgh Waste Water Treatment works and from water extensive network of insulated pipes. Alongside
properties are in conservation areas – an issue in disused mines, waste incineration, and this, a waste heat network is proposed, that
ESPC flagged in Autumn 2023, when we called using waste heat from breweries, bakeries, would use heat from Viridor’s waste incinerator,
for better support for homeowners living in distilleries, and supermarkets. located near Dunbar. A mine water heat
protected buildings. network has also been proposed.
Edinburgh City Council has also named ten
Part of Edinburgh’s strategy involved priority areas for delivery of air-source heat In terms of heat pump zones, East Lothian’s
identifying 17 ‘heat network zones’, which pumps, which are primarily mid-rise or high- more rural areas present more of a challenge.
span much of the city. These are: New Town, rise blocks. These are: Lochend Butterfly Where residents rely on oil or LPG (liquid
Leith Walk, Old Town & Southside, Gorgie & Way, Waterfront Park, Robertson Avenue, petroleum gas), the more likely solution offered
Dalry, Craigleith, Granton, Leith, Portobello & Fountainbridge, Oxgangs Avenue, West Pilton by East Lothian’s LHEES is electric-powered
Seafield, Morningside, South East Edinburgh, Grove, Craigour Place, Elgin Street, Morrison heat pumps over connection to heat networks,
Colinton Mains, South West Edinburgh, Crescent, and Craighouse Gardens. although the strategy does suggest that heat
networks on a smaller scale may be introduced,
using communal heat pumps. Heat pump zone
villages include Drem, East Saltburn, Garvald,
The consultation for residents’ feedback on Edinburgh’s LHEES closes on 18 February Gifford, Humbie, Innerwick, Oldhamstocks,
2024. To give your views on the proposals, visit consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk. Spott, Tyninghame, Stenton, West Saltoun, and
Whitekirk.

26 | espc.com espc.com | 27