Newsletter
We're your source of information, inspiration and opportunity.
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.
Fourth issue of Smarter Transformation focuses on clean heat
In this edition, we’re taking a closer look at one of the hottest topics and arguably, one of the biggest challenges facing our sector - Heat in buildings.
With the energy needed to heat our buildings in Scotland still accounting for around 20% of Scotland’s total emissions, there’s significant progress to made in order to meet our emissions reduction targets.
2026 is set to be a big year for heat in buildings. Announcements, such as Ofgem being appointed the regulator for heat networks, bring some much needed confidence to the sector. And the commitment from the Scottish Government to publish the long-awaited Heat in Buildings Bill following the election in May 2026, will similarly bring clarity and confidence to industry and consumers.
South Lanarkshire Retrofit Supply Chain Engagement
Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre (SNRC), BE-ST | 11th March, 10am - 12.15pm
South Lanarkshire Council has launched a new Energy and Retrofit Support service to help residents make their homes warmer, more energy efficient and more affordable to run, while supporting a just transition to net zero. As part of the pilot, Changeworks is working with BE-ST to build a strong supply chain network for the area to support the delivery of retrofit at scale.
This interactive workshop will bring together local installers, suppliers, training providers, community partners and public sector partners to explore the opportunities created by the new service, understand demand in South Lanarkshire, and build the skills, knowledge and connections needed to deliver high-quality retrofit.
At the event attendees can expect:
An overview of South Lanarkshire Council’s objectives and local delivery ambitions
Insights from Changeworks on the Energy and Retrofit Support service, including the Green Energy Helpline and myEcoCosi retrofit planning tool
An installer panel sharing perspectives on opportunities, challenges and barriers across fabric and clean heat
Practical, hands-on workshops and demonstrations, with a focus on fabric-first retrofit and low carbon technologies
Time to network, share experience and build new partnerships
Lothian Heat: a regional catalyst for community-owned heat networks
The latest issue of the Smarter Transformation Magazine by BE-ST features Lothian Heat, a new regional organisation exploring how large-scale heat networks could be delivered differently across the East of Scotland.
The article looks at how waste heat from sources such as energy-from-waste facilities, industrial processes and future data centres could be captured and redistributed to areas of high demand, particularly Edinburgh, with community ownership embedded for the long term.
Emerging from work on East Lothian’s Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy, Lothian Heat demonstrates the value of taking a regional approach to heat, going beyond local authority boundaries to unlock greater impact.
Support
Social Housing Net Zero Fund: progress reports - February 2026
Communities from Shetland to Dumfries & Galloway have benefited from more than £19 million in Government funding to help make social housing more energy efficient and cleaner to heat.
Allocations from the latest funding round of the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund published today show that 27 projects across the country made successful applications, bringing clean heating and energy efficiency improvements to around 2,300 social homes.
Recent news
New resource launch: Domestic Heating Design Guide
CIBSE is pleased to launch the 11th edition of the Domestic Heating Design Guide, providing up-to-date guidance for designers, installers, and learners working with domestic space heating and hot water systems.
To read more and to access the Domestic Heating Design Guide 2026, please visit here.
Historic England has published their latest report showing the viability of Water Source Heat Pumps in Historic Buildings, part of their ongoing series on heat pumps.
Water source heat pump (WSHP) technology can be deployed discretely without altering a site’s appearance, and it delivers excellent efficiency. It is, therefore, a key technology in the decarbonisation of historic buildings.
A new report reveals the majority of Scots want to see bold action to transition away from fossil fuel heating within the next decade.
The findings, based on representative polling, comes after the Scottish government confirmed last month it will not introduce a Heat in Buildings Bill this parliament.
The MCS Foundation, the charity that conducted the research, said the Scottish government should take the evidence of strong public support as a mandate for ending new gas and oil boiler installations from 2035.
What should local authorities know about the Warm Homes Plan?
The Warm Homes Plan is the biggest intervention in home efficiency and clean heat in British history. The plan places local authorities at the centre of delivery.
Read more from Energy Saving Trust.
What the UK’s £1bn Local Power Plan for community energy means for Scotland
The government and GB Energy published the Local Power Plan. Backed by a £1 billion fund, the scheme will support an initial 1000 projects, such as solar panels on sports clubs. Or, even more ambitious shared ownership energy projects, between communities and infrastructure developers. It is great to see a focus on local systems - learn more.
Events
IEA Mine Water Energy Symposium | 29-30 April
This year’s Symposium will be a hybrid event. Co-organised by the British Geological Survey, the Mining Remediation Authority, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and IEA Geothermal, the event will be held on 29 and 30 April online and in-person, at a building heated by mine water via the Gateshead Heat Network. Registration will open in early March 2026 but a call is currently open for presentations.
Oral presentations are invited, covering all aspects of mine water geothermal energy, with a focus on mine water heating, cooling and storage schemes worldwide, including:
Case studies of mine water heating, cooling and thermal storage:
New schemes.
Progress updates – feasibility, investigation and operational.
Regulation and policy.
Solutions to the challenges of mine water geothermal schemes:
Research and innovation (e.g. hydrogeological and heat flow modelling, geochemistry, etc.).
New techniques and products.
Abstract submissions should include title, authors, affiliations and preferred presentation type (oral, nano or poster, and in person or online). The abstract length (not including title, authors and affiliations) should be between 150 and 250 words. The abstract should be submitted to minewaterthermal_iea@bgs.ac.uk by 4pm on 20 February.
Initial expressions of interest (to the above e-mail address) before that date are also welcome.
HeatSource Champion News
The Bristol heat network - unlocking a low carbon future
As the UK accelerates its transition away from fossil fuels, heat remains one of the toughest sectors to decarbonise. In Bristol, a city‑wide solution is already taking shape, cutting carbon emissions for thousands of residents, unlocking local investment and becoming a blueprint for other UK cities to follow.
Vattenfall’s role in Bristol City Leap is to expand and connect the existing heat networks in the city, build new ones and ultimately create one citywide heat network. The Bristol heat network is establishing future proofed, low carbon heating that will support thousands of homes and businesses, while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. By 2050, the Bristol heat network aims to keep half of all Bristolians living, working and learning in the city warm.
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.
Subscribe
Subscribe to the HeatSource mailing list.
This is an exciting time, with revolutionary advancements set to redefine the low carbon heat sector.