To mark the 50th anniversary of the company his father co-founded in 1970, managing director Andy Pearson dove back into the annals to unearth the story of the innovations at the foundation of today’s Star Refrigeration. The formation seven years ago of Star Renewable Energy, in conjunction with Vital Energi delivered two 2.65MW water source heat pumps to power the district heating network at Queens Quay in West Dunbartonshire. Based on the site of the former John Brown shipyard, the network has been operational since December, initially supplying carbon-free heat to nearby offices, leisure and care home facilities. It will eventually be extended to cover a forthcoming health centre, 140 existing flats and retail units, and other homes planned for the site. It is the first large-scale water source heat pump scheme of its kind in Scotland, and the first such project for Star Renewable in the UK. Mr Pearson hopes its successful conclusion will spur development of this market. “It is a new string to our bow,” he said. “At the moment I would say that about 5 per cent of our business is heating, but it could come to be dominant.”
Herald 1st March 2021 read more »