Heating (and cooling) makes up around 50% of Scotland’s overall energy demand.  District heating systems present significant opportunities for organisations to enhance their business sustainability by reducing their heating costs and generating income under the RHI. The systems also present valuable opportunities for landlords to deliver affordable warmth to tenants in off-gas grid areas, helping to alleviate local fuel poverty.

However, there are numerous challenges to developing district heating including: high capital costs, revenue uncertainty and phasing issues. According to a recent paper from WWF, however, the single largest barrier to renewable heat uptake is the lack of an economic case. The RHI is expected to provide sufficient incentive to stimulate the renewable heating market but it may not be accessible to all consumers and doesn’t address the issue of capital costs.

Debating the issues will be our expert panel, including:

Rebecca Carr, Senior Heat Policy Manager, Scottish Government
Kathryn Dapré,Energy & Climate Change Manager – Health Facilities Scotland, NHS National Services
Alan Wilson, Head of Generation & Renewable Engineering, Iberdrola
Dave Pearson, Director, Star Renewable Energy 

Moderated by: Allan Crooks, Technical Specialist – Energy, Resource Efficient Scotland

Topics to be discussed include:

• What incentives can be put in place to enable district heating to become a viable addition to urban and private development across Scotland?
• What lessons can be generalised, eg. Commonwealth Athletes Village, for increasing district heating programmes across Scotland?
• The Scottish Government is prioritising District Heating as a means to tackle Scotland’s heat problem however, how effectively is the funding trickling down to communities, small business and housing associations?
• How will Scotland’s newer technologies such as biomass and geothermal energy be integrated into the development of district heating?
• Should the focus be on CHP to tackle the issue of heat and power at the same time?
• What is the role of ESCOs and Councils regarding the development of district heating systems across Scotland? One lesson from Denmark is that District Heating should not be seen as a utility, how will ownership and management be relayed to consumers?

Followed by a drinks and networking reception hosted by Anderson Strathern LLP

WHEN
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

WHERE
Anderson Strathern LLP
1 Rutland Court, Edinburgh EH3 8EY

FORUM FEE
£25 + VAT for non-members

Read more about this forum, view Delegates attending
and Speaker biographies