Newsletter
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HeatSource publish a monthly round up of news, events and activities from across the Clean Heat sector in Scotland, subscribe to make sure you’re among the first to hear about future opportunities, funding and publications relevant to your organisation.
BE-ST Fest & HeatSource: Catch up and Winners
Energy costs are rising, supply chains are under pressure and the skill shortage continues to grow, meaning the demand for solutions isn't just about climate, it’s about economic survival.
At the BE-ST Fest 2025 Summit, we tackled these challenges head on, discussing how we scale solutions with these in the backdrop - the reality of real change, the risks, trade-offs, and the strategies that actually work.Thank you to all our speakers who provided many presentations, answers and insights grounded in what works over the course of the day, creating a space for honesty, collaboration and innovation.
At the Awards' Ceremony, two HeatSource Champions celebrated taking home awards. Firstly, Midlothian Energy Limited Partnership, joint venture between Vattenfall Heat UK and Midlothian Council, won the Collaborative Partnership Award. For the Retrofit Accelerator Award, Vital Energi Utilities Limited won for their NHS decarbonisation project.
Shaping Scotland's Built Environment Cluster | 9 Dec
On 9 December, we are bringing together organisations from across Scotland’s built environment to help shape the development of a dedicated, industry-led Built Environment Cluster. This session at BE-ST marks the start of a wider engagement process to ensure that any future cluster reflects the real needs, priorities and opportunities within our sector.
The aim of the event and our engagement activity is to validate and build on the research already completed to map Scotland’s construction ecosystem, and to understand where industry believes the greatest potential lies.
This workshop is an invitation for contractors, manufacturers, designers, technology providers and supporting organisations to contribute their insight. We want an honest picture of Scotland’s current readiness for coordinated cluster activity, the barriers that limit progress, and the opportunities where targeted investment from government and enterprise agencies could have the greatest economic and social impact.
The Launch of Scotland’s First Heat Networks Suite
We attended the launch of Scotland's first Heat Network Suite at the Energy Training Academy. Located in Dalkeith outside of Edinburgh and handily one train stop from Shawfair, the location of a large district heat network run by Midlothian Energy Ltd, a joint venture between Vattenfall Heat UK and Midlothian Council.
The Heat Network Suite has been created through a collaboration of heat network supply chain organisations who identified the value of having a dedicated space to showcase the benefits of heat networks. It can be used in many ways such as meeting, event and exhibit space and learning and teaching opportunities for communities to learn about the benefits of heat networks, and inspire the next generation of the clean heat workforce. Having a Heat Interface Unit (HIU) on display allows you to get up close and see what a HN looks like in your home.
If you’re interested in using the HN suite reach out to The Energy Training Academy to find out more.
Support
UK Energy Industry & Innovation Funding: An Overview
Are you or your business interested in opportunities in the UK energy industry?
Join this free webinar from the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) on 9 December 2025 (from 10am) for an up-to-date overview of the sector and the changing innovation funding landscape.
The Big Retrofit Challenge 2026
Futurebuild launches second Big Retrofit Challenge to accelerate home and property decarbonisation. Up to six organisations will be shortlisted and invited to present their ideas live on stage at the National Retrofit Conference (NRC) 2026, part of Futurebuild, which takes place at Excel London from 3rd to 5th March 2026. Applications for the Big Retrofit Challenge are open now and close on Monday 10 November 2025 at 11:00 GMT.
Innovators can apply via the NHDG website.
Expression of Interest - Investor Showcase at Materials Research Exchange (MRE) 2026
The Investor Showcase at MRE 2026 provides an exclusive platform for companies to introduce their groundbreaking innovations to an audience of investors fascinated by the Materials sectors. This is your chance to not only showcase your value proposition but also receive invaluable feedback on your journey towards investment readiness. Register your interest here.
Events
Energy Infrastructure workshop
Wednesday 10th December 2025 | Glasgow
Zero Waste Scotland are hosting a Circular Economy event. Their Energy Infrastructure workshop will be on Wednesday 10 December. The event is taking place at the Social Hub Glasgow between 9.30am-4pm, and catering will be provided. The purpose of the workshop is to build on their recently published Energy Infrastructure System Map, and to capture feedback on this, as well as to discuss Zero Waste’s Scotland’s sector-specific roadmaps, which will feed into the Scottish Government’s Circular Economy Strategy. Register here.
Regional Energy Strategic Planning (RESP): Methodology Consultation Webinar Series
Various dates November 2025 | Online
On 17 November NESO has published it’s Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP) Methodology for consultation. It is open for responses until 16 January 2026. There are a series of deep-dive webinars scheduled over the coming weeks on key parts of the methodology. Follow NESO to find out more about the consultation and webinars.
Enabling the Heating and Cooling Transition: A strategic workshop for Cross-Border Cooperation on Underground Thermal Energy Storage (UTES) | Edinburgh
27–28 November 2025 | Royal Society of Edinburgh
UTES acts as a natural thermal battery, storing cost-effective or waste energy in geological formations to support the low-carbon transition. Building on UK, German, and EU initiatives, this workshop highlights expertise and research capacities in Lower Saxony and Scotland to foster collaboration, explore adoption challenges, and identify synergies for sustainable energy innovation. More information at www.joint-forum.org and register here.
Catch up
Geothermal Energy and Underground Thermal Energy Storage
A HeatSource webinar on Geothermal Energy and Underground thermal energy storage where we were joined by experts to discuss the scale of the opportunity in Scotland and hear about key projects underway as well as the tools and support available. If your business looking to innovate and collaborate, or you just want to learn more about this technology and how it might contribute to a clean heat future, then catch up here.
HeatSource Champion News
Read the feature on Midlothian Energy Limited: Heat District
Midlothian Energy Limited (MEL) is a joint venture between Midlothian Council and Vattenfall that is delivering a heat network for local people, keeping them at the heart of planning, delivery and roll-out. But to create success in this region and further afield, we must win people’s belief in the technology first.
This unique public-private sector partnership provides Midlothian Council with numerous benefits - from sharing our energy infrastructure expertise to risk sharing and help reaching local net zero targets. With closely aligned visions, both Vattenfall and Midlothian Council are building sustainable communities – not just for today, but for future generations.
Eoghan Maguire, Director and Chair of the MidlothianEnergy Limited board and Director of Scotland for Vattenfall Heat UK, joined us to share his insights as an integral team member in the project’s delivery.
Scottish Enterprise's green heat newsletter
Receive periodic information on market opportunities relating to green heat, including funding grants, market reports, relevant events, innovation and exports. Sign up here.
Heat Network Support Unit Newsletter
The Heat Network Support Unit (HNSU) supports the growth of heat networks by addressing key challenges in the pre-capital stages of heat network development and building capacity across the public sector to deliver successful projects. Sign up here.
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