Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 20 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what installed electricity generating capacity Scottish Water directly owns in relation to wind, hydro and solar electricity generation, and what the current estimated annual revenue value is of any such capacity in (a) cash terms and (b) savings from the use of the grid.
As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water, and the Scottish Government does not hold the information, I have asked them to respond. Their reply is as follows:
Scottish Water Group's (including Scottish Water Horizons) generating capacity by technology (2023-24) is detailed in the following table:
Technology | Installed Capacity (MW) | Actual Output (GWh) |
Hydro | 7.2 | 28.8 |
Solar/PV | 23.7 | 11.1 |
Wind | 0.5 | 0.9 |
Bioresources (Combined Heat and Power) | 4.5 | 18.3 |
Total | 35.9 | 59.1 |
Scottish Water Group renewables make a significant contribution to reducing Scottish Water’s Tier 1 operating costs: the income received from Feed In Tariff (FIT), Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC) and export to the grid was £8.6m in 2023-24.
Most of Scottish Water’s renewable assets reduce its reliance on grid electricity and reduce its exposure to electricity price volatility. In 2023-24, Scottish Water saved £5.6m.