The site of a former whisky bottling plant is to be transformed into a low carbon development with an investment of £5.3 million. The Scottish Government will provide an initial £3.5 million for the former Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire. The HALO project also includes an enterprise and innovation hub for business start-ups, a renewable energy centre and commercial and leisure units. A further £1.8 million will be provided to a low carbon infrastructure transition programme for a new “geothermal” heating system that will provide low-cost, renewable energy for hundreds of affordable homes. Economy Secretary Keith Brown said: “I have already made a commitment to support an Ayrshire growth deal and this ambitious new development is part and parcel of that commitment. Hannah Smith, policy manager at Scottish Renewables, said: “It’s great to see renewable energy playing a role in the revitalisation of such an iconic Scottish site. “Geothermal energy has exciting potential in Scotland and could play a role in meeting our ambitious renewable heat targets, but only a handful of legacy projects exist today. “The funding provided here through the low carbon infrastructure transition programme should enable the demonstration of the technology at scale and could serve as a launchpad for an industry able to tap the heat resource which lies beneath our feet.”
Herald 30th Aug 2017 read more »
