How can Scotland deliver heat networks at pace and scale?

Heat networks have an important role to play in Scotland’s transition to a net zero energy system – but unlocking investment and accelerating delivery at scale remains a challenge.

Building on our 2024 'Heat Networks Delivery Models' report for the Scottiosh Government, our Net Zero Buildings team has published these two follow-on reports exploring different approaches to increasing heat network deployment across Scotland:

🔶 Regional heat partnership model - This proposes a long-term partnership between public sector organisations and a private sector delivery partner. By coordinating activity across a defined region and creating a pipeline of projects at sufficient scale, the model could help unlock private investment and accelerate delivery.

🔶 Community-led model - This explores an approach where communities lead the development and own heat network assets. While this could work well for some smaller projects with favourable local conditions, the report concludes that it is not currently suited to delivering heat networks across Scotland at pace and scale. That doesn't mean communities are on the sidelines. Communities can play a critical role – from taking a minority ownership stake, to encouraging connections, supporting fair pricing and transparency, and helping ensure heat networks contribute to tackling fuel poverty.

Together, these reports add to the conversation about how Scotland can deliver heat networks faster, at greater scale and in ways that create meaningful benefits for communities.