The European Heat Pump Awards, which attracts entries from all over the world, announced the system in Clydebank as the winner in the Heat Pump City of the Year category.

The award recognises projects which are making a difference at a local level.

A panel of expert judges were impressed with the use of the £20 million technology, which sees water taken from the River Clyde to generate heat for buildings on the site of the former John Brown Shipyard, now known as Queens Quay.

The West Dunbartonshire Energy Centre is home to the first large-scale water source heat pump scheme of its kind in Scotland, and will contribute towards making Clydebank one of the greenest areas in the country.

Councillor Iain McLaren, convener of the council’s Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development Committee, said: “This is a huge achievement and I want to say a big congratulations to the team for getting this recognition, which shows we are truly leading the way.

“This system is the first of its kind in Scotland and I am proud that West Dunbartonshire is using this natural resource to provide energy, not only to help us achieve our Net Zero targets, but also to support residents and help eliminate fuel poverty.”

Councillor Daniel Lennie, board member of West Dunbartonshire Energy LLP, added: “This ambitious project will be extremely beneficial to the people of Clydebank for generations to come and I am pleased to see that the years of work and planning that has gone into reaching this point is getting international recognition.”

Since switching on in December last year, the energy centre supplies heat through 5km of below-ground pipework to council offices at Aurora House, the Titan Enterprise Centre, Clydebank Leisure Centre and the new care home at the site, Queens Quay House.

Pipework is also in place to supply the forthcoming Clydebank Health Centre, over 140 flats and retail units currently on site, all other homes planned for the site as well as Clydebank Library and Clydebank Town Hall.

The low carbon system has been designed on a modular basis to enable future expansion beyond Queens Quay, with scope to heat the Golden Jubilee Hospital, Clyde Shopping Centre and into the town centre.

The introduction of the network will make a major contribution towards the council’s climate change targets, as well as allowing residents of more than 1000 homes due to be built on the site to enjoy lower bills with a system that requires far less upkeep than a gas boiler.

Scott Lutton, operations director for Vital Energi, commented: “We’re delighted for West Dunbartonshire Council and the wider team for this award win. It’s a truly great achievement, putting water source heat pumps and heat network schemes at the forefront of the road to net zero. Working collaboratively with West Dunbartonshire Council highlights how effective these partnerships can be and we look forward to growing the network further.”

Dave Pearson, group sustainable development director at Star Refrigeration Ltd, said: “We are delighted that West Dunbartonshire have been recognised internationally for their leadership in harnessing the local river heat with heat pumps. This facility will be harnessing heat from the Clyde for decades to come; heat that has a very low carbon footprint and isn’t based on gas and the risks this brings.”

The Heat Pump Award was launched in 2011 to highlight cities and regions that have put in place an energy-efficient project which takes advantage of Heat Pump technology.