New energy for old Edinburgh

Scottish capital’s redevelopment scheme features ground source heating
Controversial plans for a major redevelopment in part of Edinburgh’s historic old town are set to include one of the UK’s largest ground source heat pumps. The DTI has allocated a grant of £789,000 towards a £3 million state of the art green heating and cooling system for the £300 million Caltongate scheme.

Systems of this kind work by exploiting a difference of several degrees between the ambient temperature and the subsoil, which typically stays warmer in winter. At Caltongate, air will be pumped round a network of 90 pipelines stretching up to 200 metres underground, and then through a heat exchanger to build up enough heat to keep the interior of the buildings at a toasty 18-21°C. Reversing the procedure during the summer allows hot air to be pumped below ground to keep the buildings cool. Developers Mountgrange claim the system will reduce the site’s carbon emissions by as much as 30%.

Caltongate is slated to include 200 new homes, a five-star hotel and conference centre, office blocks, cafés, restaurants, bars, and a public square. Locals have protested against the development, arguing that it clashes with its surroundings. Despite this, however, planning permission is expected to be granted by the end of the year.

- David Howells

 

12 October 2007

David Howells

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