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Will Dundee Be Scotlands First Solar City ?

Posted: 19/10/2005

An innovative scheme is putting Dundee on the map as Scotland’s first solar city, which could help residents reduce their bills and cut greenhouse gases. Dundee Sun City’s co-ordinated approach to using energy efficiently and from renewable sources could brighten up the lives of residents in years to come. Small-scale technologies like solar systems provide substantial savings on energy bills for residents.

Long-term opportunities for larger scale generation of electricity and heat from the River Tay and its estuary will be explored in line with developments in emerging technologies. Elaine Morrison, development officer for the initiative, said, “Dundee has the best solar resource of all Scotland’s cities by quite a way. That solar resource could help to power the city in the years to come.”

Solar energy is referred to as direct solar — using passive solar design, photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal collectors — as well as indirect solar, including ground heat, wind power and biomass. The plan is to encourage Dundonians to fit their homes, where appropriate, with solar or PV panels used for heating water or generating electricity.

“In an ideal world for homes that do not get much sunlight, solar energy could be pooled from homes fitted with the panels,” Ms Morrison said. “Energy from each home could be fed into a district heating system to enable solar energy to be shared amongst communities. This is, however, only an idea at this stage. Residents can save up to 50% on their domestic hot water bills over a year where solar water heating systems are used. There are already 66 homes in Dundee with solar systems. We are looking at the social housing stock trying to encourage the use of solar and other small-scale renewables. Cities account for up to 75% of global energy demands so anything we can do to reduce that is a good thing. It’s not just about putting panels on the roof, it’s helping to promote a positive image of Dundee.”

Last autumn a questionnaire was sent out to 1400 Dundee households to get their views on having solar energy brought to their homes. The survey found that 92% of people believe Dundee should seek to generate and use renewable energy. Dundee Sun City’s annual conference takes place on November 18, and this year’s theme is “How to power the city?”

Keynote speakers are Shiona Baird MSP, co-convenor of the Scottish Green Party and party spokesperson on energy, and Sarah Boyack MSP, convener of the environmental and rural development committee and co-convener of the cross party group on renewable energy.

Graeme Strachan / Dundee Evening Telegraph  
 

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