Newark renewable energy firm signs JV with Scottish funder

Newark-based SHARC Energy Systems has joined forces with Scottish Water Horizons to establish a joint venture which it says will enable it to expand and accelerate the deployment of wastewater heat recovery systems across Scotland.

The joint venture has been set up to manage the installation and maintenance of a number of key green energy projects which are currently in the advanced stages of planning.

Scottish Water Horizons will provide commercial funding for the projects, with SHARC Energy providing the design, build and operational expertise for the green energy installations.

The Scottish Government is supporting the schemes by providing 50 per cent grant capital support through its LCITP (Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme).

The new alliance will support the Scottish Government’s renewable heat and carbon reduction targets for 2020. It is the result of three years of collaboration between SHARC and Scottish Water Horizons, which has created a £20m pipeline of potential installations across Scotland that, when deployed, would generate 170 GWHs per year of heating and cooling to displace the fossil fuel currently used.

The expansion of heat from wastewater programme follow the launch of the UK’s first Sewage Heat Recovery system, developed and installed by SHARC and facilitated by Scottish Water Horizons, at Borders College in Galashiels, which aims to displace 1.8 GWhs (Giga Watt hours) of natural gas and save over 150 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

The system provides heating and cooling to customers through a heat supply agreement. This works much like that of any energy supplier, but the main difference is that customers have no up-front costs.

The SHARC system intercepts wastewater from sewers and uses heat pump technology to amplify the natural warmth of wastewater.

This generates an energy-saving, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly system for heating, cooling and hot water production in commercial and residential buildings.

Russ Burton, SHARC’s chief operating officer said: “This announcement is a very exciting step for SHARC and represents the culmination of three years of very productive working with Scottish Water Horizons to identify opportunities for the SHARC technology.

“Having the support from Scottish Water Horizons will give customers confidence in the SHARC technology, positioning it as a sustainable and viable wastewater heat recovery solution.

“With gas prices constantly fluctuating, our heat supply agreement gives cost certainty by guaranteeing the price for the length of the agreement.”

Paul Kerr, managing director, Scottish Water Horizons, said: “Heat accounts for over 50 percent of Scotland’s total energy use, so by forming this alliance to deploy further heat from waste water schemes, we can help further develop Scotland’s low carbon economy.

“Our alliance with SHARC provides us with a unique and exciting opportunity to maximise the residual heat that runs through some of Scottish Water’s 32,000 miles of sewer pipes. Using this innovative technology we are able to roll out a sustainable, low-carbon heating solution to our customers, whilst enhancing and protecting the environment.”