Four suppliers win £9m Scottish Water solar power contracts

Scottish Water has announced a new £9 million fund to help create solar power projects at its sites across the country over the next three years.

Four contractors have been selected to develop, design and install photovoltaic (PV) cells to contribute towards national renewable energy targets. The successful companies are, Absolute Solar & Wind Ltd, FES Ltd, Saliis Ltd, and Styles & Wood Ltd.

Under the deal, set up by the utility’s subsidiary Scottish Water Horizons Ltd, the framework will run for an initial period of one-year with two further one-year extensions. The contracts are short and renewable in order to take advantage of falling technology costs and to provide some security from the insecurity of the PV market.

Scottish Water Horizons Ltd received 45 expressions of interest in the contract and 17 companies submitted their bids in the battle for full tender.

Andrew Macdonald, head of Scottish Water Horizons, said: “This investment further demonstrates Scottish Water’s commitment to reducing energy costs and ultimately keeping bills as low as possible for customers.

“Through use of technologies such as solar panels, several of our water works can now generate at least all - and in some cases more - of the energy they need to operate. Not only does this benefit Scottish Water but it contributes to national renewable energy targets.

“We’re pleased to be working with experts in the sector to improve our provision of renewable energy and help maintain Scottish Water’s place as one of the best value providers of water in the UK.”

Scottish Water has reduced its base electricity consumption by more than five per cent since 2010. Total carbon emissions have fallen by 18% since 2006/07 and renewable energy generation has doubled since 2013 to over 50GWh.