A total of 556 roof mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels have been successfully installed at Tullich Water Treatment Works (WTW) in Oban.
The energy intensive WTW will now save 43 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year.
This latest £300,000 investment by Scottish Water Horizons, the public utility's commercial subsidiary, adds to the green energy that Scottish Water already harnesses at Oban's waste water treatment works where solar panels were installed in 2018.
Almost half of the electricity required to operate the facility will be offset, with the total PV array generating 0.19GWh of energy on an annual basis – that's around the same as the electricity used to power more than 65 homes a year.
Donald MacBrayne, Business Development and Delivery Manager at Scottish Water Horizons said: "We are accelerating the pace and increasing the scale of our green schemes at Scottish Water to help meet our ambitious net zero targets.
"We're committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040, with an interim target to host or self-generate three times our annual electricity consumption by 2030.
"As we're always looking for new opportunities to help achieve those targets, it made perfect sense to replicate the scheme we had already installed at our waste water treatment works.
"Projects like this one at Tullich Water Treatment Works are a key component to our net zero journey.
"We also have plans to develop a hydro energy scheme in the town."
This latest project also helped support the local economy and provided much needed employment opportunities in the area.
Donald added: "Delivering carbon projects with local companies while developing the skills of the future workforce is all part of Scottish Water helping to support sustainable rural communities."
The project was delivered by Oban Electrical Services (OES), part of the FES Group.
Angus MacPherson of OES said they welcomed opportunities such as the Tullich project.
He said: "It brings companies like us local work and helps to sustain employment in the area.
"It is essential that we deliver more renewable energy projects to help achieve Scotland's net zero targets.
"We're really impressed with the role Scottish Water Horizons plays in actively driving decarbonisation through renewable energy technologies and we are proud to have delivered for them."
Angus added that having the right skills available locally is critical to the delivery of successful schemes in rural communities. It gave OES the opportunity for their modern apprentice, Jamie MacEwan, to join the team delivering the project.
Jamie said: "It was a brilliant experience working on the solar PV project at Tullich and it really helped to further my hands-on training in the renewables sector. I'm looking forward to future opportunities like this with Scottish Water Horizons."
Several solar projects are currently under construction across Scottish Water's property portfolio, all helping the organisation's net zero journey and supporting a flourishing Scotland.
Currently, almost 80 of Scottish Water's water and waste water treatment works are now either self-sufficient or partly sufficient in their power requirements.
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
26/11/2024
Scottish Water has unveiled its largest-ever procurement initiative, aiming to modernise the nation's water and wastewater infrastructure while safeguarding the environment. The program, named Delivery Vehicle 4, is valued between £5 billion and £9 billion and is set to run from 2027 to 2033, with ...
26/11/2024
The City of Edinburgh Council has granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for the refurbishment of Calton Square, an office building currently occupied by Baillie Gifford until the end of December 2025. Promoted by Ardstone Capital on behalf of Manova Partners, the project aims to ...
26/11/2024
First Minister John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, praised the progress being made on the construction of the new Perth High School during a visit on Friday, 22 November. He was joined by Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, alongside senior Perth and Kinross Councillors, ...
26/11/2024
A state-of-the-art playpark has officially opened at King George V Park in Bearsden, following the completion of a £100,000 refurbishment. Funded by a combination of East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) Capital Funding and the Scottish Government’s Renewing Scotland’s Play Parks initiative, the ...
26/11/2024
Fife Council has launched a public consultation, inviting residents, businesses, and organizations to contribute ideas and propose sites for inclusion in the next Local Development Plan, known as Fife's Place Plan. The council is calling on community councils, landowners, and developers to share ...
26/11/2024
The Chief Executive of East Lothian Council has announced she is to retire in February 2025. Monica Patterson who has been Chief Executive for almost five years, has spent most of her professional career working in local government. Prior to joining East Lothian Council in 2010, she was Head of ...
25/11/2024
West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) and Connect Modular have jointly submitted a planning application to Glasgow City Council for the development of 33 affordable homes in Cowlairs. This project aligns with the wider Cowlairs Park regeneration scheme and the city's ambitious housing ...
25/11/2024
Arc-Tech (Scotland) has successfully completed a £6m Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) services package for the Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh. The state-of-the-art resort, which opened its doors earlier this month, features a range of amenities, including a wave pool, luxury lodges, and ...
25/11/2024
Scottish Water has successfully completed the construction of a groundbreaking hydro energy generation scheme at Whiteadder Reservoir in East Lothian. This innovative project, believed to be the first of its kind in Europe, will harness the power of water to offset a significant portion of the ...
25/11/2024
Work is set to commence on a £6.5 million project to upgrade the Double Dykes Gypsy/Traveller site near Perth. The initiative aims to replace outdated chalets with modern, energy-efficient accommodation and implement significant site improvements. Perth & Kinross Council secured £3.9 million from ...