THE new district heating system at the Queens Quay development in Clydebank has won a prestigious award for its efficiency.

The European Heat Pump Awards, which attracts entries from all over the world, announced the system in Clydebank as the winner in the Heat Pump City of the Year category.

The award recognises projects which are making a difference at a local level.

A panel of expert judges were impressed with use of the £20m technology, which sees water taken from the River Clyde to generate heat for buildings on the site of the former John Brown shipyard.

The system - now known officially as the West Dunbartonshire Energy Centre - is home to the first large-scale water source heat pump scheme of its kind in Scotland, and will contribute towards making Clydebank one of the greenest areas in the country.

Councillor Iain McLaren, convener of West Dunbartonshire Council’s infrastructure, regeneration and economic development committee, said: "This is a huge achievement and I want to say a big congratulations to the team for getting this recognition, which shows we are truly leading the way.

"This system is the first of its kind in Scotland and I am proud that West Dunbartonshire is using this natural resource to provide energy, not only to help us achieve our Net Zero targets, but also to support residents and help eliminate fuel poverty."

Clydebank councillor Danny Lennie, a member of the board at West Dunbartonshire Energy LLP, which runs the scheme, added: "This ambitious project will be extremely beneficial to the people of Clydebank for generations to come and I am pleased to see that the years of work and planning that has gone into reaching this point is getting international recognition."

Since switching on in December last year, the energy centre supplies heat through 5km of below-ground pipework to Council offices at Aurora House, the Titan Enterprise Centre, Clydebank Leisure Centre and the new care home at the site, Queens Quay House.

Pipework is also in place to supply the forthcoming Clydebank Health Centre, more than 140 flats and retail units currently on site, and all other homes planned for the site, as well as the Clydebank Library and Clydebank Town Hall.