Scotland’s Southern region is gearing up for a cleaner, warmer future—and it’s got expert backing. Natural Power, a leading renewable energy consultancy, has helped launch a new regional heat network prospectus that could transform how homes and businesses stay warm across Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders.
It’s a big leap forward, and people are starting to pay attention.
First-of-its-Kind Prospectus Targets Local Energy Revolution
Unveiled by South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) in partnership with both regional councils, the new South of Scotland Heat Network Prospectus lays out 19 potential heat network sites across the area. These aren’t just speculative ideas—they’re backed by serious groundwork.
Natural Power conducted all the technical heavy lifting: research, energy demand modeling, emissions analysis, and infrastructure feasibility studies. It’s the first document of its kind tailored for the South of Scotland, and officials say it could set the tone for future regional energy blueprints.
Steve Smith, Principal Renewable Heat Engineer at Natural Power, called it “a real milestone,” adding that it could reshape how the region tackles both climate change and energy inequality.
What Are Heat Networks, and Why Do They Matter?
At the core of this plan is a simple but powerful idea—generate heat centrally, then distribute it locally.
Heat networks (also called district heating) supply thermal energy from a single generation point—often powered by renewables or industrial waste heat—to clusters of buildings through insulated pipes. Instead of every home or shop running its own boiler, they tap into the shared system.
They’re already widely used in countries like Denmark and the Netherlands. In the UK, they’re still emerging. But there’s a big push now.
Especially here.
One-sentence paragraph: Scotland sees heat networks as a key pillar of its Net Zero ambitions.
Here’s why this shift matters for locals:
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Lower heating costs for households and businesses
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Reduced reliance on fossil fuels and grid electricity
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Better air quality and less indoor pollution
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New job opportunities in low-carbon infrastructure and engineering
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Flexibility to expand as neighbourhoods grow
According to the prospectus, the 19 potential networks could serve more than 2,400 domestic and non-domestic buildings, delivering around 120,000 megawatt-hours of heat each year. That’s enough to power the heating needs of a small city.
Capital Cost: Steep, but the Payoff Could Be Bigger
So what’s the price tag?
About £120 million.
That’s the estimated cost to fully install all 19 heat networks. It’s not pocket change—but it’s not a fantasy either. Regional officials and energy experts believe the upfront investment will be offset by long-term public savings, economic growth, and environmental wins.
What those benefits look like, in brief:
| Category | Projected Impact |
|---|---|
| Carbon Reduction | Cut tens of thousands of tonnes of CO₂ annually |
| Jobs & Skills | Upskill local workforce; create hundreds of roles |
| Fuel Poverty | Lower bills in off-gas-grid and rural areas |
| Energy Security | Reduce reliance on external fuel markets |
| Public Services | Heat schools, hospitals, and care homes efficiently |
SOSE says next steps will involve site prioritisation, business cases, and working with both public and private sector partners to get funding lined up.
From Rural Disconnect to Resilient Heating
One major challenge in rural Scotland is heating consistency. Many communities aren’t connected to the gas grid, and electric heating remains expensive and unreliable.
Natural Power’s role was to take these regional quirks into account. Their team identified opportunities where heat demand was high and infrastructure installation wouldn’t cause massive disruption.
In some places, potential waste heat from industrial estates or public buildings could be recaptured. Elsewhere, solar thermal fields or heat pumps linked to rivers and lochs might do the job.
And yes—borders, valleys, and weather were part of the equation too.
This isn’t a boilerplate solution. It’s built for the land, literally.
Community Buy-In Could Be the Deciding Factor
Technological blueprints are only half the battle. Getting public support—and trust—will be key.
That’s where councils and SOSE come in. They’re already planning engagement campaigns across Dumfries, Hawick, Galashiels, and other likely host towns.
And here’s something interesting: feedback from initial workshops was overwhelmingly positive. People want clean heat. They want lower bills. But they also want control.
So the model being explored could allow for community-owned networks, giving locals a stake in the infrastructure itself.
That would be a major step for energy democracy in the region.
The Bigger Picture: South of Scotland as a Testbed
While this project is local by design, it’s being watched closely by energy planners across Scotland.
If successful, the South of Scotland’s model could be adapted for other rural regions, especially those struggling with fuel poverty and unreliable heating. It might also accelerate Scotland’s national heat decarbonisation targets.
One of SOSE’s lead energy officials described it as “not just a regional opportunity, but a national prototype.”
And Natural Power? They’re staying involved.
Smith said the consultancy will continue supporting the technical development phase and advising on funding bids. “We look forward to seeing this vision being brought to fruition,” he said.
