Scottish Power Energy Networks have helped create 335 direct and indirect jobs through our £20million Green Economy Fund that invests in projects across Central and Southern Scotland.
The fund has invested in some of the country’s most innovative projects to help support the electrification of transport networks, boost innovative low carbon heat projects and train young people in renewable technologies. From an App Developer at Sanctus Media to Battery Installation Contractors, SP Energy Networks has supported job opportunities during one of the most challenging years in employment history.
The fund has also helped create a highly skilled green workforce of the future by supporting projects that educated 2,558 students in low carbon technologies and inspiring young people across Scotland to consider a future career in science, technology, engineering or maths.
As Scotland prepares to host the UN COP26 Climate Change Summit in Glasgow next year, SP Energy Networks has invested in a range of other projects across Scotland to support the electrification of transport networks, boost innovative low carbon heat schemes and the installation of low carbon renewable technologies. So far, the fund has saved 169tCO2e of carbon – the equivalent of planting 18,000 trees through the projects directly supported. It has also purchased 26 electric vehicles which have travelled the equivalent of six times around the world, 151,112 miles, using green energy instead of diesel.
Frank Mitchell, Chief Executive of SP Energy Networks, said: “Our Green Economy Fund supports some of Scotland’s most innovative projects and through funding their vital work we’ve been able to take a giant step forward in creating a greener Scotland for everyone.
“Scotland has always been a nation of innovators and since 2018 we have supported 35 highly innovative projects. We believe in supporting our communities by investing directly in projects that deliver low carbon solutions and creating local economic benefits that come from moving to zero carbon. Our aim is to ensure no community is left behind in the transition to Net Zero.
“As the country prepares to host the COP26 climate summit next year, we share the vision for making Scotland cleaner and greener by accelerating the green economy to deliver a better future quicker for our communities.”
High profile electric vehicle and heat projects funded by the Green Economy Fund include: funding two all-electric buses for First Glasgow as it became the city’s first commercial bus operator to introduce state-of-the-art fully-electric vehicles onto a commercial bus route since the 1960s; financing five brand new 100% electric minibuses and two fully electric people carriers for Community Transport Scotland; providing 5 e-cargo bikes to SoulRiders for Scotland’s first ever integrated e-cargo bike delivery and food waste service and installing battery storage technology to ultimately around 150 off-gas homes in Dumfries and Galloway to help families in social housing save up to 70% off the cost of their energy bills each month.
To find out more about the Green Economy Fund and the projects it supports, click here (opens in a new window).
