Aberdeen: A key player in shaping a positive, low-carbon future

Strategy one: buildings and heat

The first strategy is focused on the responsible use of materials in the construction of buildings and energy use within properties. The route map says there needs to be “many changes to the ways in which both heat and power are generated and used”.

The key national context informing decisions is the Scottish government’s Heat in Buildings Strategy, published in October 2021, which states that the “vast majority” of homes in Scotland that currently use high-emissions oil, liquefied petroleum gas and solid fuels must convert to zero-emissions heating by 2030.

The route map identifies a number of levers that could be used locally. These include using the city’s forthcoming local development plan to identify heat network zones.

Homes are being retrofitted to the PAS 2035:2019 standard as part of Project DORIC, which stands for the Domestic Optimised Retrofit Innovation Concept, a Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy match-funded project. New-build council homes will be built to a “gold standard” of energy performance, and the council will also look to expand district heat networks and connect new homes to them. The report identifies the potential for hydrogen to displace natural gas, including “the potential to introduce this to some district heat networks in Aberdeen”, although this is dependent on a number of factors, including “decisions on the future of hydrogen in the gas grid from the UK government”.

The challenges

The key obstacles relate to the widespread use of granite in tenements, which mean there is significant energy use and heat loss. While this places people in fuel poverty, the plan acknowledges careful thought must be given to ensuring that costs incurred as a result of changes in technology “are not passed on to those least able to afford changes”.

The route map report breaks the key challenges down into financial and operational risks. Financial risks include concerns that zero-emissions heating systems are currently more expensive to operate, there is a low level of financial assistance for property owners to retrofit homes, and the cost of connecting to district heating is high.

Operational risks involve a potential lack of capacity and expertise in the construction and energy sectors to deliver improvements, and a lack of certainty on low-carbon fuel and technology.

Strategy two: energy supply

Energy supply is another priority in Aberdeen, because it produces a significant proportion of total carbon emissions. In 2019, Aberdeen’s energy consumption was 3.5% of the Scottish total, with the source of highest demand being domestic (36%).

Efforts to combat this have already started. There are three off-shore wind developments in the area – with the six ScotWind sites east of Aberdeen providing potential – and the Aberdeen Heat and Power network. The report discusses the “significant opportunities to develop and expand energy networks across the city, with several existing heat networks in operation”.

The energy-from-waste site in Altens provides an additional opportunity for locally generated energy to feed into into new and existing networks in the form of heat and power. Carbon capture and hydrogen proposals also offer opportunities to overhaul delivery, with the potential to “establish Aberdeen as a global centre of excellence for hydrogen”. In July 2024, Aberdeen Hydrogen Energy Limited – a joint venture between BP and Aberdeen City Council – announced the green light for the Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub project. The hub will feature a hydrogen production, storage and distribution facility, powered by electricity generated at a solar farm. At the time, Christian Allard, co-leader of the council, said the project would “establish the city as the net-zero capital of Europe”.

In October, Great British Energy established a new Aberdeen Energy Taskforce to speed up “the city’s transformation into a global clean-energy hub”. Among the ambitions for the taskforce are for it to shape capital and procurement decisions that will unlock local supply chains, innovation and manufacturing. Graeme Sword, co-chair of the taskforce, said its goal was to “create a bridge between the North East’s proud oil and gas legacy and the clean-energy industries of the future”.

The Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG), established in 2003, supports the supply chain in accessing opportunities in the UK and overseas renewable-energy markets – representing more than 260 members.

“Aberdeen has long demonstrated leadership in the energy transition,” Jean Morrison, chair of AREG, tells Inside Housing.

“From the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre to the BP-Aberdeen City Council hydrogen initiative, these developments showcase the region’s commitment to pioneering clean-energy solutions.”

Challenges

Aberdeen identifies a number of challenges when it comes to delivering sustainable energy. These include failing to invest in technology and project development, and failing to develop new workforce skills and supply chain capabilities.

The scale of the investment required for large-scale projects is another risk, and the route map states that “new funding and financial models” will be required. Rapid structural changes to the energy market potentially mean energy costs will rise. There will also be a need for a skills transition as approaches to delivery change.

Strategy three: the circular economy

“Reduce, reuse, repair, remake and finally recycle” is how Aberdeen sums up its circular-economy strategy. The route map says that, out of these, “the most valuable action we can take is to reduce consumption and production”.

“Aberdeen has long demonstrated leadership in the energy transition”

Its strategy is in keeping with the Scottish government’s thinking. In October, the government published a consultation on a draft circular-economy strategy for

Scotland, spelling out its commitment to move from a linear “take, make and dispose” economic model “to a circular economy where goods are valued and kept in use for as long as possible”. The built environment is one of five priority sectors the government has identified for action, and it is planning to use policy levers including business support, procurement and education to revolutionise the system. It has pledged to work in partnership with stakeholders to develop a roadmap to improve circularity.

The good news for Aberdeen is that it is already a leader among Scottish cities when it comes to recycling, recycling 49.9% of its domestic household waste (compared with Edinburgh at 38.8%, Glasgow at 24.7% and Dundee at 38.4%).

A number of next steps have been identified, including the possibility of establishing a “reuse quarter”, which could support regeneration, and engaging with the construction sector to explore opportunities to avoid waste.

The challenges

Political, social, legal and financial risks loom large when it comes to maximising the circular economy.

For starters, the council acknowledges it is not possible for it to influence all the national and global factors that have an impact on the production of goods and supply chains. This is where the Scottish government’s plans may come to the rescue, as they include enhancing “the strength of local supply chains, to reduce dependence on international supply chains for the supply of essential materials such as critical raw materials”.

The government’s consultation identifies many obstacles to adoption in the built environment, saying that the “adoption of low-carbon materials and circular-economy practices can face barriers such as lack of confidence, less-established supply chains and higher prices”.

Strategy four: empowerment

The foundation of the council’s approach to empowerment is the National Standards for Community Engagement, produced by the Scottish Community Development Centre. It will take three main approaches: communication and understanding, collaboration and participation, and intervention and action.

When it comes to communication, targeted climate literacy campaigns will be delivered, and the council will look to “identify place-based narratives” around climate change that resonate with communities, individuals and businesses.

Crucially, collaboration means designing services with different stakeholders across the community, “empowering them to be part of the journey and, ultimately, to take on the decision-making and delivery”. This could involve bringing people together to deliberate, for example in citizens’ juries (successfully used by the Northern Housing Consortium in England for a project about climate change) or participatory budgeting.

When it comes to intervention and action, this will include things like providing resources to make it easier to recycle.

Challenges

The strategy warns against overusing the approaches in this theme, which could lead to fatigue and loss of engagement. Progress needs to be transparent, so people can “see the benefits for themselves and the city”.

Strategy five: mobility

In 2019, Scotland’s largest source of net emissions came from domestic transport (excluding international aviation and shipping). The mobility strategy seeks to promote and improve the link between land use and transport, therefore walking, cycling and the use of public transport are encouraged.

“Aberdeen is already a leader among Scottish cities when it comes to recycling, recycling 49.9% of its domestic household waste”

The mobility strategy is focused on reducing the need to travel, integrating transport networks better, encouraging low-carbon transport decisions, increasing public transport options, extending active-travel networks and decarbonising transport.

Aberdeen has already invested in active-travel infrastructure such as a local rail service to Inverurie. A successful car club is in place, and a framework for electric-vehicle charging is in progress.

Challenges

Key challenges include reducing journey numbers, reducing journey lengths, facilitating model shift, increasing active travel, decarbonising public transport and reducing travel demand.

Other risks include the level of public and political support, potentially unpopular proposals and financial challenges. 

Strategy six: the natural environment

In recent years, extreme weather events like storms Frank, Arwen, Malik and Corrie, have affected Aberdeen, protected local areas such as the River Dee Special Area of Conservation and the coast.

This strategy focuses on reversing harm to the natural environment, creating nature-based solutions and empowering stakeholders. The city has a history of action, for example tree-planting and nature-based flood-alleviation schemes.

The route map points to a need to enhance the city’s blue infrastructure (to manage flooding) and “urban greenery” such as green roofs and walls, and street trees.

Action will involve increased use of permeable surfaces and sustainable urban drainage systems, along with support for growing food locally.

Challenges

The route map says a reduction in funding for public bodies, including environmental agencies, could affect resilience in the natural environment. Other challenges exist around how to provide information and raise awareness about what is happening, as well as the need to improve monitoring and data to inform decisions.

Ms Morrison of AREG tells Inside Housing: “The path to net zero is complex, but the progress made so far reflects the strength, adaptability and collaboration of our local industries.

“We remain focused on supporting a just transition, one that delivers opportunity and sustainability. 

“With the talent and ambition across our region, we’re confident that north-east Scotland will continue to be a key player in shaping a positive, low-carbon future.”

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