Agreed at Aberdeen City Council’s Finance and Resources Committee yesterday, the move means the networks would be more resilient, more energy efficient, and have reduced carbon emissions.

Committee convener Councillor Alex McLellan said: “We want to ensure the district heating network is as energy efficient as possible while having reduced carbon emissions.

“The new pipeline will do that and will also ensure heat is taken from the energy from waste facility at Tullos to the network, meaning non-recyclable waste will be used to heat people’s homes and other buildings.”

Council co-leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “Once the new pipeline is installed, it will help district heating network customers as the network wouldn’t be subject to the gas price variances as it is at the moment. It is also part of the council’s commitment toward net zero.”

Aberdeen City Council established Aberdeen Heat and Power in 2002 as a not-for-profit company to help address fuel poverty in its housing stock and to develop, operate and maintain the city’s heat networks.

The majority of heat supplied to their networks is generated using gas-fuelled combined heat and power generators and gas boilers.

The Aberdeen Heat and Power City Centre, Seaton and Tillydrone networks serve a range of public and community buildings and several multi-storey residential blocks. The network also supplies heat to local schools, nurseries and sheltered housing, supporting essential public services across Aberdeen. More than 1,600 residential properties are connected to the network.

The supply of low carbon heat through the pipeline will significantly reduce the overall impact of carbon emissions for heating and hot water demand for properties connected to the networks. The pipeline will also reduce the exposure of Aberdeen Heat and Power to volatile energy markets offering price stability and allowing Aberdeen Heat and Power to distribute affordable heat across its network.

The Committee agreed tenders will be invited for a design and build framework contract for the pipeline with detailed design of the network to RIBA Stage 4, which would include a survey and assessment of the existing Aberdeen Heat and Power City Centre and Seaton heat network to ensure technical compatibility. The successful contractor would also provide a fixed price for the construction of the transmission pipeline.

The proposed route for the 4km pipeline would start at Tullos recreation ground connecting to the Torry Heat Network which in turn connects to the energy from waste low carbon heat source. The pipeline would then runs east across Tullos recreation ground and St Fittick’s Park until it meets St Fittick’s Road. The pipeline would then track north along St Fittick’s Road and across the practice area of Balnagask Golf Course to a tunnel going under the mouth of the River Dee and Aberdeen harbour.

The tunnel below the harbour will be constructed using a tunnel boring machine, launched from a shaft on the southern side, allowing the pipeline to be installed entirely below ground without disruption to Port of Aberdeen operations.

Exiting the tunnel in the Footdee play area, the pipeline would then runs northwards along Pocra Quay onto the Esplanade, terminating at a new Beach Energy Centre to be located next to the Beach Ballroom. The Beach Energy Centre serves as the main pumping and distribution point for injecting heat into the Aberdeen Heat and Power City Centre and Seaton heat networks.

As part of these works, the Seaton heat network will be connected to the Tillydrone heat network via a piped interconnector running along School Road and St Machar Drive paving the way for future network growth.