Plans to create Scotland's largest energy self sufficient community have moved a step forward as an energy services company is appointed to deliver the multi-million pound project.

More than 1,200 homes in Cardenden, Fife, will soon get all their heat and hot water from a new energy centre powered by waste wood. The scheme will be developed and operated by FTSE 250 outsourcing and energy services company MITIE Group PLC, working in partnership with Ore Valley Housing Association.

The project will give a significant economic boost to the local economy. Around 50 local jobs will be created during the construction of the energy centre and up to 12 additional permanent positions will be created once the centre is up and running.

Residents will benefit from heat and hot water at up to 10% less than current market prices, having a positive effect on helping to counter fuel poverty. The scheme will also save 21,000 tonnes of CO2 each year, the equivalent of the emissions generated by 3533 Fife homes.

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Mike Tivey, Managing Director of MITIE's Asset Management business, said: "This is a really progressive and exciting project that will bring secure, green and affordable energy to the Cardenden community, as well as support Scotland's renewable targets.

"The new energy centre will bring tangible economic benefits to the local community through both the creation of new jobs and cheaper fuel bills for local residents."

The waste wood powered energy centre will fuel a steam boiler generating heat to supply the local community with heating and hot water. It will also generate 35000MWh electricity a year that is fed into the national grid. The project, which is currently going through the planning process, will involve laying over 25km of pre-insulated pipework to form a heat network from the energy centre to the town homes and local authority buildings.

The energy centre will be located approximately 1km from the centre of the town and within a 20,000 square foot purpose built structure with a low roof to reduce its visual impact.

As part of the project MITIE will also provide a dedicated Community Liaison Officer whose job it will be to minimise disruption to the community while the work is being completed and ensure each individual householder gets their heating system upgraded.

(CD)