The City of Edinburgh Council is set to choose energy equipment and solution provider Vattenfall Heat UK as the preferred bidder for the Granton Waterfront regeneration project.

The contract award will represent a major milestone in the £1.3bn regeneration project, which seeks to create a connected, sustainable new coastal town at Granton Waterfront in Edinburgh, Scotland.

This predevelopment contract for the project will see the modification and completion of a sewage source low-carbon heat network system design.

The system will serve thousands of residences, local amenities, and many other commercial and social enterprise companies.

Vattenfall Heat UK Heat Networks - Scotland director Eoghan Maguire said: “The Granton Waterfront heat network aims to capture heat that would otherwise be wasted from the sewer system and could serve the community of 3,000 new homes, as well as existing buildings. The network will adopt a futureproofed design, meaning expansion to the north-west of Edinburgh would be possible.”

Vattenfall will work together with the council to finish the heat network plans.

The objective is for the company to build, operate, fund, manage, and maintain the network for the next 40 years, subject to further approval from the council's Finance and Resources Committee.

It represents a significant move forward for the council and the Granton Waterfront area to support Edinburgh in achieving net-zero energy by 2030.

Edinburgh Council leader Cammy Day said: “The homes being delivered in the area are being designed to be well insulated and energy efficient which will also be a huge benefit to everyone living there, particularly those facing fuel poverty.

“Work is also continuing to transform the iconic gasholder in the area into a place for the wider community and visitors to play and relax.”