Paul Wheelhouse MSP, minister for business, innovation and energy, has visited Broomhill in Greenock to hear how its new £7 million district heating system is resulting in warmer, more energy efficient homes with dramatically reduced energy bills.

Social housing provider River Clyde Homes is investing £26m in improving Broomhill in what is one of the biggest regeneration projects of its kind ever to be undertaken in Scotland. As well as the new biomass and gas district heating system, which became operational in September 2016, the project will also see over 600 properties refurbished with external wall insulation, brand new kitchens and bathrooms, double glazed windows, and hi-tech security features.

The district heating system, which was funded by British Gas under the ECO scheme, has a large central boiler within a localised energy centre that supplies hot water directly to 555 homes within the Broomhill apartment blocks via a system of underground, pre-insulated pipes. The water is delivered directly to a heat exchanger within each building. This provides residents with heat and hot water on demand without the need for individual boilers. This results in dramatically cheaper fuel bills for residents and a reduced carbon footprint.

As part of its commitment to tackling fuel poverty, the Scottish Government aims to have 40,000 homes connected to district or communal heating systems by 2020.

Mr Wheelhouse visited the scheme’s energy centre, where he met with Albert Henderson MBE, chair of River Clyde Homes and Gary Wilson, director of property and business development, as well as several happy Broomhill residents who are already noticing substantial reductions in their fuel bills. A recent survey of tenants has shown that bills have dropped from an average of £16 per week to between £5 and £10 per week in the majority of cases.

Paul Wheelhouse said: “I am pleased to be here in Greenock today to see how this new district heating system is delivering affordable low carbon heat to residents. This not only results in reduced energy bills for residents, but contributes to reducing heat demand across Scotland, helping us towards our wider renewable heat and climate change targets.

“More homes and businesses across Scotland are seeing the benefit of renewable heat. New figures published by the Energy Saving Trust, on behalf of the Scottish Government, estimate that last year saw the largest annual increase in renewable heat output since measurement began in 2008 – up by over 1,100 GWh in a single year.

“There remains more work to do to reduce demand, supply heat more efficiently and increase the role renewable heat plays in Scotland’s energy mix. More than half the energy we use in Scotland is used to provide heat and that’s why we continue to develop new and existing avenues of support in this important area and this will be reflected as a key priority in our forthcoming Energy Strategy.”

Albert Henderson MBE said: “The transformation of Broomhill is a major three-year plan, one of the largest regeneration projects in Scotland and I am very proud of the difference that’s being made here. I was very pleased to be able to welcome the Minister to Broomhill today to see first-hand the difference our district heating system is making to the lives of our tenants. The Minister and I share the common aim of eradicating fuel poverty, and district heating systems are one of the most effective ways to do that.”

Angela Hair, resident of Whinhill Court in Broomhill, added: “The new district heating system has made a tremendous difference to me – I am saving a fortune. I used to pay £50 per month for heating and hot water. Now, thanks to the new system and also the new double glazing and render that helps to keep the heat in, I have spent just £11 since August. It’s also better for my health and better for the environment too, so I am delighted.”