Plans to create Scotland’s largest energy self sufficient community have moved a step forward as an energy services company is appointed to deliver the multi-million pound project.
More than 1,200 homes in Cardenden, Fife, will soon get all their heat and hot water from a new energy centre powered by waste wood. The scheme will be developed and operated by FTSE 250 outsourcing and energy services company Mitie Group PLC, working in partnership with Ore Valley Housing Association.
The project will give a significant economic boost to the local economy. Around 50 local jobs will be created during the construction of the energy centre and up to 12 additional permanent positions will be created once the centre is up and running.
Residents will benefit from heat and hot water at up to 10% less than current market prices, having a positive effect on helping to counter fuel poverty. The scheme will also save 21,000 tonnes of CO2 each year, the equivalent of the emissions generated by 3533 Fife homes.
Mike Tivey, Managing Director of Mitie’s Asset Management business, said: “This is a really progressive and exciting project that will bring secure, green and affordable energy to the Cardenden community, as well as support Scotland’s renewable targets.
“The new energy centre will bring tangible economic benefits to the local community through both the creation of new jobs and cheaper fuel bills for local residents.”
The waste wood powered energy centre will fuel a steam boiler generating heat to supply the local community with heating and hot water. It will also generate 35000MWh electricity a year that is fed into the national grid. The project, which is currently going through the planning process, will involve laying over 25km of pre-insulated pipework to form a heat network from the energy centre to the town homes and local authority buildings.
The energy centre will be located approximately 1km from the centre of the town and within a 20,000 square foot purpose built structure with a low roof to reduce its visual impact.
As part of the project Mitie will also provide a dedicated Community Liaison Officer whose job it will be to minimise disruption to the community while the work is being completed and ensure each individual householder gets their heating system upgraded.
Andrew Saunders, Director of Ore Valley Housing Association, said : “This is an exciting project which we have been working on for a long time. It is encouraging to see things beginning to move towards the point when work will be able to commence.
“As a small community focussed organisation we have gone through a significant learning process which we believe will provide a wide range of lasting benefits for the community of Cardenden.”
Fact box
- £35million energy centre will create revenue for local businesses during construction as well as up to 12 new jobs in the operation and maintenance of the plant.
- 1,200 homes heated and powered by 38,000 tonnes of waste wood
- A 20,000 sq ft purpose built energy centre? 25km of heat network laid around Cardenden
- Following planning approval the project could commence as early as April 2012
-ENDS-
For further information, contact:
Bell Pottinger
Chris Watts
D: 020 7861 2859
E: cwatts@bell-pottinger.co.uk
Notes for editors
What is Mitie?
We’re the strategic outsourcing and energy services company. What does that mean in practice? We manage facilities, energy and properties for our clients across the UK and beyond.
We work with our clients in three ways; some take full advantage of our whole range of expertise, others may only need one aspect of what we do:
Strategy and consultancy
+ Facilities and energy management
+ Service delivery
Our strategic input can add value at the highest level by helping clients to manage their assets, while our practical management expertise can save customers money and reduce their carbon emissions. We work with a vast number of clients in every industry across both the public and private sectors and deliver the broadest range of services that can be found in one place: from integrated facilities management to engineering maintenance to lifecycle energy management and much more.
There’s a lot more to Mitie than you probably think. We’re a big company with big ambitions – a leading FTSE 250 support services business, with more than 61,000 people, revenues of £1.9bn, and a reputation for being the best.
Visit us at www.mitie.com
Ore Valley Housing Association
Ore Valley Housing Association is a Scottish registered social landlord operating within Central Fife. As well as delivering affordable housing solutions the organisation is also involved in the delivery of a range of community development projects. Ore Valley HA has established Cardenden Heat & Power Ltd as related company for the specific purpose of delivering this project.
Contact:
Andrew Saunders, Director
T: 01592 721917
E: asaunders@orevalleyha.org.uk