Scottish Water has completed a combined solar and battery project at its Linwood Wastewater Pumping Station in Renfrewshire, providing renewable energy around the clock to help run the site.

The installation features nearly 2,000 ground-mounted solar panels alongside 12 battery racks, allowing green electricity to be captured and stored for use when demand is highest. The array is expected to generate up to 0.97GWh of power annually. Around 53 per cent of that output will be consumed directly on site, which is forecast to cover roughly half of the facility's total electricity requirement, cut operational costs, bolster resilience and reduce reliance on grid power.

Scottish Water estimates the scheme will lower carbon emissions by about 147 tonnes each year — equivalent to 56 return flights between Aberdeen and Vancouver. Any excess energy will be exported to the national grid. The project is the third battery storage system to be installed at a Scottish Water site and was led by the utility's commercial subsidiary, Scottish Water Horizons, with delivery by renewables specialist OCS. Plans for new hedgerows and wildlife habitat features will further enhance biodiversity at the location.

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Scottish Water Horizons Project Manager Alan Mearns said: "This project demonstrates how we are using innovative technologies, including battery storage, to get the most from renewable energy generated on site.

"By capturing and storing energy to use at strategic times, we can improve resilience, significantly reduce operational costs and carbon emissions from this site and make our operations more efficient."

Scottish Water Operations Team Leader Jim Reid said: "Pumping stations operate around the clock to deliver essential services for local communities, so energy use is significant.

"The ability to store energy on site means we can use the renewable power generated in the most effective way and reduce our dependence on the grid, while continuing to provide a reliable service for customers."

As part of community benefits, the project team worked with the local school to enhance outdoor learning and sensory garden areas, adding new planters with sensory-friendly vegetation to create a more engaging space that supports learning, well-being and connections with nature.

Ian Mailer, OCS Divisional Manager - Support Services, said, "This was a first-of-its-kind system for us, and it let us make the most of the site. The way we connected the solar panels and batteries meant we could fit in far more solar capacity than would normally be possible within the limits of the grid connection."

He added: "Our teams delivered the installation through one of the toughest Scottish winters on record, staying on budget throughout. Alongside the build, we've valued the chance to support the local community, including working with the local school, and it's been a genuinely collaborative project with Scottish Water Horizons from start to finish."

The Linwood pumping station is a critical, energy-intensive asset that moves wastewater for treatment across the network. The scheme forms part of a broader programme of investment in renewable energy and low-carbon technology across Scottish Water sites, supporting the organisation's ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2040 while building sustainable, resilient services for communities across Scotland.