Plans have been revealed to boost the development of Sewage Heat Recovery systems in Scotland.

Scottish Water Horizons is to establish a strategic alliance with SHARC Energy Systems to accelerate the technologies deployment, as well as supporting the Scottish Government's renewable heat and carbon reduction targets for 2020.

The news follows the launch of SHARC's UK-first Sewage Heat Recovery (SHR) system at Borders College in Galashiels. The facility aims to displace 1.8 Gwhs of natural gas and save 150 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

Scottish Water Horizons has estimated up to 750 systems would need to be installed by 2020 for Scotland to achieve its carbon savings targets.

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The partnerships is the result of two years of informal collaboration between SHARC and Scottish Water Horizons,which has created a £20 million pipeline of potential installations across Scotland.

Once completed, it is estimated 170GWHs per year of heating and cooling would be generated to displace fossil fuel currently being used.

Andrew Macdonald, Head of Scottish Water Horizons, said: "The potential to deploy this technology is significant.

"Heat accounts for over half of Scotland's total energy use and we believe that by harnessing the natural resources of our vast waste water network, we can further the development of Scotland's low carbon economy, whilst protecting and enhancing the environment.

"Scottish Water treats over 900 million litres of waste water every year and we are determined to maximise the opportunities presented.

"Our alliance with SHARC Energy is an exciting opportunity which will help to accelerate the deployment of this proven technology on a wider scale, providing customers with an innovative and sustainable lower cost heating solution."

(LM/MH)