Scotland launches £300 million Heat Network Fund

The Scottish government has set up a £300million Heat Network Fund to support the development and roll-out of zero emission heat networks.

The Heat Network Fund will be available to public and private sector bodies looking to heat multiple buildings from a centralised source.

The new fund takes over from the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme and is part of the overall £1.8 billion committed to decarbonise heat in buildings.

Patrick Harvie (pictured, centre), Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, made the announcement on a visit to the Queens Quay district heat pump system in Clydebank.

“By the end of this decade, we aim to have switched over one million homes and the equivalent of 50,000 non-domestic buildings from fossil fuels to zero-emissions heating,” said Patrick Harvie.

“The projects that receive support from the fund will fully align with the Scottish Government’s aim to eradicate fuel poverty by supplying heat at affordable prices to consumers, which is especially important now when we are seeing record rises in the cost of heating.”

During his visit, Harvie also announced the opening of applications for the Social Housing Net-Zero Heat Development fund and the extension of funding for ‘Fabric First’ energy efficiency projects in social housing.