Torry Heat Network

Phase 1 of the project focused on integrating the existing HeatNet project, serving 146 domestic and three non-domestic customers, including Provost Hogg Care Home, Balnagask Care Home, and Deeside Family Centre. The project also connected Tullos Primary School and Balnagask Social Work Office and Swimming Pool.

We added additional pipework which will connect a further 150 social housing flats comprised of twelve 5-storey and five three-storey residential blocks, with internal pipework prepared for future works by Aberdeen Heat and Power.

Integrating this network involved creating the prefabricated Balnagask substation, acting as the hydraulic break between HeatNet and Phase 1 of the Torry Heat Network. This pre-fabricated substation was constructed by pre-fabrication engineers at our headquarters and then transferred to site.

It includes 2 x 800kW plate heat exchangers, providing a capacity of 1.6MW, capable of serving buildings connected to the HeatNet portion of the network.

Phase 2 saw us install 3.5km of pipework throughout Torry.  When house connections are complete this will serve approximately 587 homes.  This phase primarily involved social housing, with a few private connections and the final connections will  to be carried out by Aberdeen Heat and Power.

The project also connected Greyhope School and Community Hub and provided pipework for future connections to several other public buildings, an important part of the network’s planned expansion.

The project is connecting approximately 800 homes and various council-owned schools and buildings. The network can distribute up to 10MW of low-carbon heat through 11.6km of district heating pipework.

Aberdeen City Council are demonstrating that city-wide decarbonisation can be achieved rapidly, and at scale, to bring the dual benefits of decarbonisation and reduced fuel poverty to regions.

Over two phases, 11.6km of highly insulated, below-ground district heating pipework was installed, making it one of Scotland's largest retrofit heat networks. The project is expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 107,000 tonnes over a 40-year period, significantly contributing to Aberdeen City Council's ambition to achieve net zero by 2045.

The Torry Heat Network integrated and expanded the existing HeatNet network into a much wider scheme.  This is one of the first times  this has been done in Scotland and demonstrates the technical feasibility of this approach.

This is something that will be extremely important as networks grow and interconnect to become true, city-wide projects.

We believe these large-scale infrastructure projects are the perfect opportunities to learn more about the communities we’re working in and support them in the fantastic work they do.  We were able to deliver four apprenticeship opportunities, 25 weeks of work placement and engage with 50 school children.  Additionally, our staff contributed almost 100 hours of local volunteering and made significant donations to local causes.

The Torry Heat Network project has a profound impact at the national level by demonstrating a successful approach to delivering city-wide decarbonization rapidly. Regionally, it contributes to the council meeting their net zero targets and improving air quality. Locally, it transforms the heating systems of social housing throughout the area, addressing fuel poverty in one of Scotland's most deprived communities. The project's success is a testament to the commitment, vision, and investment made by Aberdeen City Council to demonstrate the viability of EfW-powered heat networks as a core component of Scotland's future energy mix.