A drinking water tank operated by Scottish Water, which provides clean water to residents in West Dunbartonshire, has become significantly more environmentally friendly with the installation of 548 solar panels on its roof.
This £485,000 project, located at a distribution service reservoir in Old Kilpatrick, will supply nearly half of the site’s energy needs through renewable sources. It is projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 48 tonnes annually.
The solar panels, mounted on the tank, are anticipated to produce 0.26GWh of green energy each year—equivalent to boiling approximately 1.2 million kettles.
Led by Scottish Water Horizons, the commercial arm of the publicly owned utility, the project was executed by renewable energy experts Emtec Energy.
Keliann Arthur, Project Manager at Scottish Water Horizons, stated: “We are thrilled to have completed this project in Old Kilpatrick, starting 2025 on a positive note. The initiative will provide 46 percent of the energy needed at this site, essential for delivering clean water to local residents, from renewable solar power.”
“We look forward to implementing many more renewable energy initiatives, including solar and hydro projects, in the upcoming year.”
Scottish Water Operations Team Leader Iain MacSwan remarked: “This service reservoir supplies water to numerous residents in West Dunbartonshire, and it’s fantastic that nearly half of the energy required to operate the site will now come from these solar panels.
“This initiative optimizes the available space at the site and brings us closer to achieving our net zero targets by 2040.”
Source : Scottish Water
