Funding to deploy low carbon heating systems in social housing is being fast-tracked

Low carbon investment has been fast-tracked to support the Covid-19 recovery.

The Scottish Government has announced a grant to deploy low carbon heating in existing social housing has been moved forward to support Scotland’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

The vast majority of the investment made through the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund will be made in the coming year to support the start of construction on shovel-ready projects.

It will also deliver a reduction in greenhouse emissions while reducing heating bills for social housing tenants by delivering a minimum of £20 million investment though the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP).

The fund will focus on providing financial support for the installation of heat pumps, with biomass boilers and integrated low carbon heat solutions in existing social housing also eligible for support.

Scotland’s energy minister, Paul Wheelhouse, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented global crisis which has fundamentally changed almost every aspect of our lives and the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring a strategic economic recovery from the pandemic.

“This £20 million Social Housing Net Zero Heat fund will deliver rapid investment to support both our energy and construction sectors whilst reducing bills for those who in many cases have been worst-hit by the economic impact of Covid-19.

“The Scottish Government remains wholly committed to ending Scotland’s contribution to climate change by 2045 and to ensuring that we do so in a way that leaves no-one behind. The Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund will deliver on both principles, and my colleagues and I look forward to seeing this investment delivering multiple benefits across our society in the coming months.”