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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.
Deep Dive into Underground Energy: Geothermal and Thermal Storage
The path to clean heat could lie beneath our feet. And for Scotland, our mining heritage could fuel a new energy legacy through geothermal technologies.
BE-ST brought together experts at this HeatSource webinar to explore how abandoned coal mines and underground spaces could become vital energy source and storage assets, supporting Scotland's clean heat transition.
Here, we summarise the event’s key learnings, introduce the concept of geothermal energy supply and storage, and signpost to resources for local authorities or developers interested in exploring this technology in Scotland.
South Lanarkshire Retrofit Supply Chain Engagement Workshop
On 11th March, HeatSource joined the local supply chain and wider sector for discussions, insights and networking at a busy South Lanarkshire Retrofit Supply Chain Engagement Workshop.
The workshop discussed showed that funding, procurement and customer awareness are common barriers to retrofit in the local region, meaning we don't just need better solutions, we need better systems.
The event also highlighted a range of programmes including Retrofit Scotland, One-Stop Shop model and the EcoCosi contractor network as Changeworks, in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council, is delivering a Retrofit One-Stop Shop (OSS) pilot across South Lanarkshire.
The South of Scotland Heat Network Prospectus launched in July 2025, highlighting and promoting the potential for rural heat networks within the South of Scotland, helping to raise the awareness of smaller district heat networks and low temperature networks.
While cities have historically received most of the initial attention around heat networks, the Prospectus spearheaded by Dr Paul J Gilbert at South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) aims to ensure that communities and rural regions across the South are not limited solely to individual air source heat pumps if a heat network could be cost-effective and more efficient.
"Small-scale heat networks need to become the de facto solution,” Paul says. “At the moment, social landlords and the public sector are clear on how to take an 'off-the-shelf' air source heat pump to decarbonise their stock, but if they want to look at something different, it seems quite complex for them. The opportunity for heat networks needs to be demystified for these types of stakeholders – who could become early adopters at scale."
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
Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund shares a further £19m to help heat homes.
Housing secretary Màiri McAllan said: “Since 2021, the Scottish Government has provided almost £90m of funding to social housing providers through this fund, helping to make more than 13,000 social homes warmer and easier and cleaner to heat. Read more.
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. Read here.
Earth's heat to power 10,000 homes in renewable energy first for UK.
The UK's first geothermal power plant is set to go live, providing a completely new type of renewable electricity using hot water from underground. The Cornish plant will be switched on after nearly two decades in development which required Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL) to drill the deepest on-shore well in the UK. Read here.
Events
All Energy - 25th Anniversary, 13–14 May 2026
All-Energy, the UK’s largest low-carbon energy and renewables event at the SEC, Glasgow.
Join us for two days of networking, connections, and uninterrupted business with the renewable energy community. Register here.
Clean heat neighbourhoods: a Plymouth case study
Join Nesta on Tuesday 24 March, 13:00–14:00 GMT, where they will explore how local authorities can proactively support the transition to clean heat. Drawing on recent work in which Nesta worked hand in hand with Plymouth City Council, this session will demonstrate how to test and apply a model for creating local clean heat plans. Register here.
HeatSource Champion News
Warmer Homes Scotland scheme helps 50,000th customer
More than 50,000 households have now received support though Scotland’s national fuel poverty scheme to live in warmer, healthier homes that are more affordable to heat.
The Warmer Homes Scotland scheme, managed by Warmworks, provides essential insulation and heating improvements to people living in, or at risk of, fuel poverty.
To mark this significant milestone, First Minister John Swinney visited Warmworks’ Edinburgh office where he met customer Sandra Owen. Sandra had new electric heaters installed in her home through the scheme and is delighted with the results, reporting that she no longer feels cold or stressed and is saving money on her energy bills.
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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