University of St Andrews’ £25m green energy centre scoops sustainable development award

Over 1,200 guests gathered last week in Edinburgh at the Scottish Green Energy Awards to hear about the great pioneering work being carried out on our own shores in the renewable energy space, and to honour those leading the charge. 

Fifteen awards designed to recognise innovation and achievement in the sector were announced on the night, with the Sustainable Development Award  going to the University of St Andrews for its Guardbridge Energy Centre, a ground-breaking initiative which is delivering significant economic activity within the area and will generate substantial environmental benefits through carbon dioxide savings. 

Located on the 36-acre site of a former paper mill, the £25m biomass facility once completed will pump hot water underground to heat and cool laboratories and student residences in St Andrews. It will use only wood from sustainable local forests as biomass.

Shepherd and Wedderburn advised Amber Infrastructure Limited and the SPRUCE fund in arranging an £11m loan facility which allowed construction work to start on the Centre last March.  Patrick Bell, Banking and Finance Partner, commented:

“ I would like to congratulate the team at the University on winning this award. The project demonstrates real vision, ingenuity and determination to reduce carbon emissions, while at the same time providing a heating system which is both state-of-the-art and economical to run. 

“Shepherd and Wedderburn is proud to have worked with Amber Infrastructure Limited and the SPRUCE fund in helping to move this important project forward.”