Clean heat will play a crucial role in meeting Scotland’s net zero targets. There’s huge growth potential for Scottish businesses too. Find information and support on immediate, large-scale opportunities in the low carbon heat market.
of Scotland's energy demand comes from heat
is the largest single source of carbon emissions in Scotland (including industrial heat)
is the estimated spend required for Scotland to reach net zero by 2045
Clean heat will play a crucial role in Scotland’s net zero ambitions. It's also a growth opportunity for Scottish businesses.
There are immediate, large-scale opportunities in the low carbon heat market for companies in Scotland. These opportunities are expected to grow significantly as a result of new legislation.
Scotland is committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Heat accounts for 51% of Scotland's energy demand and is the largest source of our carbon emissions.
At least £33 billion of investment will be needed to meet Scotland’s 2045 target. The Scottish Government will kick-start the investment in this transition with £1.8 billion of capital funding over the next five years. By 2030, it's estimated that 28,000 jobs overall could be created by the shift towards low carbon heating, with net additional jobs of 16,400.
The Scottish Government's Heat in Buildings Strategyopens in a new window shows the future direction of clean heat in Scotland. The Scottish Government has committed to spending £1.8 billion during the lifetime of this parliament to build energy efficient and low carbon heating.
Jobs supported by the transition to low carbon heat are estimated to rise by an additional 16,400 across the economy by 2030.
Installations are also forecast to increase from 3000 per year to 124,000 cumulatively from 2021 to 2026, and to 200,000 per year by the late 2020s.
This is a growing Scottish, UK and global market with opportunities in:
Research and development will be critical to the expansion of low carbon heat in Scotland, Europe and around the world. Scotland is home to world-leading academic expertise, along with innovative companies developing products and services at the cutting-edge of low carbon heat.
With eight academic departments and research centres focused on the heat challenge, Scotland is forging ahead with the development of new technologies for heat pumps, heat networks, geothermal and beyond.
Scottish Enterprise has published a research piece on the key technology and innovation needs for low carbon heat.
Access the full Low Carbon Heat - Innovation Needs Assessment reportopens in a new window
Our Clean Heat Accelerator is a five-month training course designed to support ambitious businesses involved in the clean heat sector.
We’ll help you to grow your company and build networks through regular online workshops and in-person events. You’ll also be matched with clean heat and low carbon innovation experts. They'll help you to develop commercialisation plans, become investment ready and introduce you to relevant industry contacts.
Learn more about the programme and applyopens in a new window
The rapidly growing low carbon heat sector has a range of opportunities for:
In order to meet our 2030 climate target and reduce emissions by 75%, the majority of Scotland's 170,000 off-gas homes that use high-emissions oil, LPG and solid fuels, as well as at least one million homes currently using mains gas, must convert to zero emissions heating.
By 2030, we'll also need to convert the equivalent of 50,000 of Scotland’s non-domestic properties.
Around 3000 new low or zero heating systems were installed in 2020. Installations are forecast to increase from 3000 per year to 124,000 cumulatively from 2021 to 2026, and to 200,000 per year by the late 2020s.
This will be achieved through district heat networks (a system of insulated pipes that take heat from a central source) or heat pumps installed in individual buildings.
There are 2.5 million occupied dwellings in Scotland, and we expect the vast majority of them to still be occupied in 2045. By 2030 we should also have made significant progress towards making all homes in Scotland as energy efficient as possible (that is, meeting a minimum standard of EPC C).
Increased energy efficiency will also be crucial to ensure optimal performance for alternative low and zero direct emissions solutions such as heat pumps.
Additionally, all new builds must feature higher levels of fabric energy efficiency to reduce overall heat demand. This will apply from 2024 for building warrant applications for new homes.
The following solutions will help achieve these goals:
There will also be a requirement for digital solutions, smart systems, sensors and controllers to integrate with new energy efficient systems in buildings and homes.
Key buyers for the low carbon heating sector include:
You can find a directory of companies in the low carbon heat market in Scotland on the heat.directories.scot websiteopens in a new window, including specialists in:
Find new partners and contracts by advertising your heat credentials in the Scottish Industry Directoryopens in a new window.
You can also check if your business is already on the directory and if your details are accurate.
Our research service can also help you source lists of companies in this sector. We provide free market research and company information to businesses in Scotland.
We can also help you access the latest reports on the low carbon heat sector, including:
Please include the name of the report you're interested in when you get in touch.
Sources of funding for heat-related activity can be found in annex B (Scotland) and annex C (UK) of the Heat in Buildings Strategy. Read the Heat in Buildings Strategy on the gov.scot websiteopens in a new window.
You can also search for sources of funding for your business on the Find Business Support website. Visit the Find Business Support websiteopens in a new window.
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If you’re interested in finding out more about the topic of this guide or any other aspect of making your business more sustainable, our sustainability team are here to help.
