3rd December 2025

Torry Heat Network Wins District Heating Project of the Year

This marks the sixth time we've won the District Heating Project of the Year since it's inception in 2015.

Vital Energi and Aberdeen City Council are celebrating a landmark achievement after the Torry Heat Network was named District Heating Project of the Year at the prestigious H&V Awards.

This recognition marks a significant milestone in Scotland’s transition to a low-carbon future. Delivered over two phases, the Torry Heat Network has delivered 11.6km of district heating pipework installed by Vital Energi, in partnership with Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeen Heat & Power.

The scheme connects hundreds of lower income households with a low-carbon, affordable heat source. It also supplies heat to several public buildings, including schools and council offices, through a network powered by energy recovered from a nearby Energy from Waste (EfW) facility.

Keiran Walsh, Vital Energi’s Regional Manager (North & Scotland), said: “We believe the Torry Heat Network is the first major, modern city heat network of its kind in Scotland and is a great case study for future projects aiming to decarbonise at town or city scale.

“Heating our homes is a basic human need, and this project is a fantastic example of how councils can improve energy resilience to existing communities, providing for affordability and reduced carbon emissions through large-scale heat networks. We’re proud the judges have recognised its impact, and we hope it inspires other councils to transform the way they heat their towns and cities.”

A large-scale collaborative project with clear environmental benefits and strong innovation in design and delivery. Demonstrated solid community impact and technical achievement.

Judges' Comments, H&V Magazine Awards

The network sources low-carbon heat from the nearby Energy from Waste (EfW) plant, reducing reliance on gas boilers and cutting carbon emissions significantly. In addition to homes, it serves important community facilities including:

  • Provost Hogg Care Home
  • Balnagask Care Home
  • Deeside Family Centre
  • Tullos Primary School
  • Balnagask Social Work Office

This is the second national award the Torry Heat Network has claimed after it won the Retrofit Accelerator at last year’s BE-ST awards.