A leisure centre in Argyll and Bute is to become the first of its kind in the UK to create heat from waste water.

In the first project to be delivered through a joint venture between Scottish Water Horizons and SHARC Energy Systems, Campbeltown's Aqualibrium leisure centre will utilise ground-breaking technology to intercept waste water from Scottish Water's adjacent Kinloch Park Pumping Station.

The heat recovery installation will extract naturally occurring residual heat from the water, amplifying it and transferring it to the clean water network to provide heating for the facility.

The £1 million scheme will meet 95% of the centre's heating needs and use just 25% of the energy it currently takes to heat it with gas. Overall, the low-carbon, sustainable and environmentally-friendly energy system will heat the 25-metre swimming pool, fitness suite, steam room, sauna and library.


Funding for the development is being provided by Scottish Water Horizons and the Scottish Government's Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP). The project is expected to be completed by November.

Donald MacBrayne, Scottish Water Horizons Business Development Manager, said: "We are actively exploring ways in which we can utilise Scottish Water assets to facilitate green technology and through the joint venture with SHARC Energy Systems delivering heat from waste water systems and the fantastic low-carbon benefits which are generated.           

"We are thrilled that after months of hard work and the launch of the joint venture we are able to bring the Campbeltown project to life. Once complete, the Aqualibrium Centre will benefit from significant carbon savings, helping Argyll & Bute Council meet their carbon reduction targets and lower their heat costs."

Russ Burton, Chief Operating Officer of SHARC Energy Systems, said: "The Aqualibrium project is a significant step for the joint venture and SHARC, demonstrating how our technology provides a real, sustainable and renewable alternative heat service to customers in rural communities as well as urban centres.

"We have long thought that leisure centres are a great opportunity for SHARC and heat pump technology and we look forward to working with Argyll and Bute council to make this scheme as successful as our first installation at Borders College in Galashiels."

(LM)