Scottish Water has reached a major renewable energy milestone

According to new figures, the company now generates/hosts more renewable power than it consumes annually, with this figure set to double by 2018.

The utility company requires around 445GWh of power per year across 4,500 sites such as water and waste water treatment works.

However, it has increased its renewable power generation by improving energy efficiency, increasing self-generation and hosting private renewable investment on its estate.

Dave Thomson, Director of Finance with Scottish Water Horizons, said: "We have invested £16m in various renewables technologies over the last few years and have committed to invest a further £50m in sustainable energy production, enhancing energy security, job creation and ultimately keeping costs low for customers."

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Chris Toop, general manager of Scottish Water's energy programme, added: "We have invested in a number of innovative measures such as low-carbon, low-cost treatment technologies and doubled our renewable energy capacity to more than 54GWh through hydro, wind, photovoltaic solar, biomass boilers and combined heat and power (CHP).

"Scottish Water has installed more than 4000 smart meters to target energy opportunities and, in just three years, these have raised the annual financial benefits to more than £7m, cut carbon emissions by 16% since 2006-7 and facilitated more than £330m of private investment on its estate.

"Facilitating more renewable power than we consume makes a significant contribution to keeping the long-term cost of providing vital water and waste water services as low as possible, while supporting national economic, carbon and renewable energy targets."

The milestone was also welcomed by Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham.

She said: "I am delighted that Scottish Water has met this significant milestone. By generating and hosting more renewable power than they consume, they are providing a great example to other companies of how improving energy efficiency and investing in renewable power can have a real impact."

(LM/MH)