First Minister Alex Salmond has officially launched a new state-of-the-art heating and hot water system in Glasgow which is leading the way in low cost, environmentally-friendly energy. 
The new district heating system in the Wyndford Estate in Maryhill is part of a £27m regeneration of the Cube Housing Association homes and surrounding estate.
The energy system – one of the biggest of its kind in the UK – will provide heating and hot water to more than 1500 tenants. Over 360 owners in Wyndford are also being given the opportunity to take part.
Cube Housing Association – part of the Wheatley Housing Group – has worked with Scottish Gas and SSE to deliver the regeneration project which also includes overcladding 17 multi-storey blocks and 12 low-rise blocks to make them more energy efficient.
The locally produced heat and insulation from the overcladding of the blocks is an affordable, energy-efficient way of heating homes. This combination will bring the cost of heating homes on the estate down by an average of 25 per cent.
SSE, working with its partner Vital Energi, designed and built the district heating system and will operate it on behalf of Cube. Scottish Gas has supplied £2m of funding for the power station and is also managing and funding the overcladding work.
First Minister Alex Salmond said:
“I am delighted to officially launch Cube Housing Association’s new, state-of-the-art heating and hot water system in Glasgow. This new plant is one of the largest in the UK and it will provide low cost hot water and heat to more than 1,500 homes at the Wyndford Estate in Maryhill.
“The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the development of district heating networks, just like this one, right across Scotland. They help homes and businesses stay warm, create jobs and help the whole country meet its obligations to reduce our carbon footprint.”
Liz Ruine, Chair of Cube Housing Association, said:
“Cube wants its tenants to have modern homes that are affordable to run. This is a fantastic collaboration between the public and private sectors to improve the lives of hundreds of tenants and homeowners.”
Jon Kimber, Managing Director of British Gas New Energy, said:
“This has been an ambitious project which will transform the homes and lives of Cube tenants. Scottish Gas is proud of the part we have played in it, as part of our commitment to improving the energy efficiency of Scottish communities.”
Jim McPhillimy, Managing Director, SSE Group Services, said:
“SSE is committed to helping communities realise their green ambitions and this project is a shining example of what can be achieved through effective collaboration, targeted financial support and a shared focus on a sustainable future.”
