Executive Summary
FES FM and Support Services (branded as OCS) delivered a new energy centre and district heating network at Shawfair New Town, Midlothian, in partnership with Vattenfall Heat UK and Midlothian Council via Midlothian Energy Ltd.
In a 16‑month project, OCS designed, built, and commissioned a low‑carbon heating system that will serve around 3,000 new homes, two primary schools, a secondary school, and a mixed commercial and retail district.
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16 Months
Project duration from appointment to commissioning
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3000
New homes (plus schools and commercial space) served by the scheme
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2500 Tonnes
CO₂/year saved via heat from waste energy recovery
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15 Tonnes
11 m high, 3.2 m diameter: each thermal storage unit specifications
“I would like to thank the FES team for the successful delivery of this project which, despite the challenges, was delivered on budget, on time and, most importantly, safely. It has been a pleasure to work with FES on this project and I look forward to our ongoing relationship.”
Mark Street
Senior Project Manager for Vattenfall UK
The Brief
The Outcome
OCS completed the Shawfair energy centre and district heating network on time and on budget, delivering low-carbon heat to thousands of future homes and buildings. The system uses waste heat from the nearby energy recovery centre and features advanced, chemical-free corrosion control.
Installing 15-tonne thermal storage units and building over a former mine shaft posed significant challenges, which were safely managed through expert coordination and engineering solutions.
The scheme is expected to save over 2,500 tonnes of CO₂ annually and brought added social value through local apprenticeships, school engagement, and charity fundraising—demonstrating OCS’s commitment to both sustainability and community impact.
“Shawfair was a fantastic opportunity to put our skills into practice on a project that will benefit the local community and also deliver heat in a sustainable way. The partnership approach that FES and Vattenfall encouraged, created a strong working relationship and allowed us to collectively overcome any of the potential obstacles we encountered in the design, build, installation and commissioning of the site.”
James Reid
Operations Director – Energy, for FES Support Services (proudly OCS)
