£43m investment for Scotland's green industries

Scottish engineers could benefit from an investment of more than £43m in low-carbon infrastructure announced this week by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The investment from the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, one of the largest in the last 10 years, will be shared across 13 projects across Scotland. “These projects have great potential to help us tackle climate change, and remain at the forefront of low carbon and renewable innovation," said Sturgeon, speaking at the All Energy Conference in Glasgow. "They will also bring economic benefits – in terms of savings and jobs – to local areas across the country.”

The projects to be funded include an energy storage project in Shetland, low-carbon heat networks across Scotland, and the installation of a heat pump on the River Clyde to serve the Gorbals area of Glasgow.

“The programme is providing excellent support in placing a high temperature river heat pump – the largest in the UK – at the Clyde to supply clean, low carbon heat to buildings in the Gorbals, helping us to collectively work to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in Scotland,” said Dave Pearson, director at Star Renewable Energy, which is involved in the project.

The renewables industry in Scotland employs more than 11,00 people, with 58,000 working in low-carbon industry.

Scottish Engineering, an association of engineers in the country, was approached by Professional Engineering but declined to comment.