Local energy firm applauded by MSPs

Last week saw Sarah Boyack MSP, Scottish Labour’s Spokesperson on Environmental Justice, accompanied by Ken MacIntosh MSP, Spokesperson for Communities visit the firm to learn more about their soaring success in the field of renewable energy.

The business has achieved much in a short space of time, including having won a very lucrative tendering process to supply the city of Drammen, 40 miles west of Oslo with heating pumps.

The city extracts most of the heat needed to insulate its houses, offices and factories against the biting Nordic cold from the local fjord.

Actually, to be more precise, the city is being heatedfrom the water held within the fjord, with 85 per cent of the hot water needed for heating being provided through equipment supplied by the Thornliebank company.

The business is also involved in a low carbon heating project led by E.ON working with technology providers SK Solar and the University of Exeter.

Earlier this year the joint project was awarded the second tranche of a Government research grant to create an innovative energy system supplying one of the country’s largest district heating systems with low carbon heat directly from sunshine.

Eastwood MSP Ken MacIntosh said: “This is a good new story for a local business but more than that, it is good news for all of us who are looking to improve energy efficiency, find cheaper ways to heat our homes and reduce carbon emission and global warming.

“We know that Scandinavia recognises the work of Star renewables - I am hoping there is more we can do in the UK and here in Scotland to make the most of this fantastic technology.”