Given its strategic position on Scotland’s east coast, its manufacturing history and knowledge-driven economy, Dundee is ideally situated to support investors and entrepreneurs via the availability of competitive land, buildings, infrastructure, physical environment and a supportive planning regime. On top of this, Dundee is leading the way in net-zero and decarbonisation projects across the sector, which ticks the box for many investors, developers and businesses’ growing environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements and alignments.
Dundee came together to tackle climate change and The Dundee Climate Leadership Group was formed to provide active leadership on the city’s net-zero challenge and chaired by the University of Dundee. Their operating principles are to work within the objectives of the Dundee Climate Action Plan and the strategic vision of Dundee Partnership (Community Planning Partnership) with targeted themes of Decarbonising heat, transport and Construction & Retrofit.
The Council declared a Climate Emergency in June 2019, recognising the seriousness of the environmental, social and economic challenges accelerated by climate change. As a response, Dundee Climate Action Plan, led by Dundee City Council and co-designed with over 50 public, private and community organisations, has been established. The plan will be delivered through the 64 actions across 4 strategic themes – Energy, Transport, Waste and Resilience – which have been identified to reduce emissions and adapt to a changing climate.
The plan aims to achieve two key goals:
- 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and
- net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 or sooner
In line with the Dundee Climate Action Plan, some of the Council’s decarbonisation credentials are as below.
Buildings
- Domestic: ‘Fabric first’ approach to minimise the heat loss in new and existing buildings, including £47m investment in External Wall Insulation programme to thermally upgrade properties of nearly 5,000 residents to meet stringent EESSH 2 standards, as well as incorporating technologies such as heat pumps, smart energy systems, district heating and solar PV
- Non-domestic: decarbonising buildings, which accounts for 70% of total emissions reduction, by using Energy Performance Contracts (EnPC), which by far covered 26 properties in two phases, with another 24 properties worth £2.75m to be covered with the third phase
Transport
- One of the largest EV fleets of any local authority in the UK, addressing the goal to increase the percentage of ultra-low emission and electric vehicles up to 20% by 2027
- EV to charging hubs across the city, including the first solar-powered, and the first multi-storey charging hub in the UK.
- Continuation of work with Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc to establish the parc as a globally recognised hub for smart mobility
- 150 e-bikes across the city for hire
Infrastructure
- Scotland’s largest ground source heat pump (GSHP) system which supports the Regional Performance Centre for Sport
- LED bulbs for all streetlights, reducing carbon emission by 30%
Port of Dundee, offshore renewables and decommissioning
Port of Dundee is now the premier offshore wind marshalling site in Scotland
Port of Dundee plays a vital role in supporting the net-zero transition of the economy by encompassing traditional oil and gas capability to support low carbon sectors including offshore wind and wave and tidal.
Forth Ports Ltd has invested over £40m to improve facilities at the port to ensure they are capable of meeting the demanding requirements of both existing and emerging markets.
Port of Dundee Infrastructure Masterplan includes:
- New Decommissioning & Renewables Quayside
- Fully SEPA Licenced Caledon East Quay with Water Management Systems for Decommissioning use
- Upgraded quay that enables High Loads and RoRo
- 140,000 sq m High Loading Land Space
Fabrication, de-commissioning and re-commissioning facilities are available at Port of Dundee.
Current and future offshore wind farm projects around Dundee Port are:
- NnG Offshore
- Seagreen
- Inch Cape Offshore
- Moray West Offshore
- East Cost England – Sofia, Dogger Bank Zones and Hornsea Zones
- Scotwind – The capacity of these 17 new sites amounts to just under 25GW with 60% of this capacity being for floating offshore wind projects. This huge additional capacity to the Scottish market puts Scotland at the forefront of the emerging floating wind market.
Dundee offers a unique opportunity for investors and entrepreneurs to undergo a conscious economic growth by taking tangible actions to materialise the city’s climate plans. The city has continuously demonstrated its commitment to improving net-zero and climate change credentials, which will help guarantee the sustainable future of the city, businesses and its residents.