As we consider the impacts of climate change and fossil fuel use, it’s important to examine the role steam plants play and how we can reduce their environmental footprint.
100 years ago, steam was central to industry, powering ships, railways and factories. Today, companies like ours remain deeply involved in the steam sector, providing vital services such as boiler installation, inspection and repair. While the method of producing steam (heating water using a fuel source) hasn’t changed much, the fuels we use have evolved from coal to oil and gas, and now, hydrogen and biomass.
Our extensive expertise in steam systems positions us perfectly to support the transition to renewable energy. Technologies like combined heat and power (CHP), biomass and green hydrogen all rely on steam. And we’re already helping modern systems maximise efficiency and sustainability. From designing new steam infrastructure to retrofitting existing boilers to run on biomass or hydrogen, we enable clean energy adoption with precision and reliability.
We’re playing a vital role in decentralised energy networks, offering tailored steam solutions for smaller-scale renewable plants and integrating steam turbines into local grids – ensuring steam technology remains a well-supported resource in the renewable energy landscape.
We’ve been involved in some ground-breaking projects and here’s a flavour of what we’ve achieved most recently:
Queens Quay: Scotland’s first river to radiator community heat network
We played a key role in the delivery of Scotland’s first major water source heat pump district heating network at Queens Quay, Clydebank — a £250m regeneration project led by West Dunbartonshire Council. Working alongside Vital Energi, we designed and fabricated a bespoke, maintainable water extraction system that draws heat from the River Clyde to supply homes, businesses, and public buildings with low-carbon heating. Manufactured from super duplex stainless steel at our Glasgow facility, the system includes specialist pipework, filtration, and an innovative removable frame guided by sliding rails, installed with the help of professional divers. This pioneering project highlights our ability to combine traditional engineering expertise with cutting-edge renewable technology to support the transition to greener energy solutions.
Michelin Scotland Innovation Park: a smart solution for sustainable heat
We delivered the full mechanical design and installation for the renewable heat system at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) in Dundee — a landmark project supporting Scotland’s net zero ambitions. Working within the constraints of an existing building, our team provided all plant, equipment, and secondary steel supports, as well as a new pipe bridge and final insulation. Completed to the highest safety and quality standards, this technically complex project demonstrates our ability to deliver smart, sustainable heating solutions for forward-thinking developments like MSIP.
Arbikie Distillery: Piping in the world’s first green hydrogen distillery
Working on behalf of Locogen, we played a key role in helping Arbikie Distillery become the world’s first green hydrogen-powered distillery by installing a new hydrogen-ready boiler alongside the existing oil-fired system — all without disrupting daily operations. Our engineers supported this pioneering fuel-switching project, which uses green hydrogen generated by a 1 MW wind turbine on the distillery’s Lunan Bay farm. As the distilling industry strives to decarbonise, we’re proud to be supporting innovative, low-carbon solutions that align with Scotland’s net zero ambitions.
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Our close collaboration with our trusted equipment partners means we have faster installs, seamless integration, and critically, access to the latest innovations in today’s low-carbon, high-efficiency energy landscape.
Whether it’s supporting a renewable heat project or modernising legacy infrastructure, our team brings unrivalled technical insight and practical know-how to every job – helping the renewable energy sector power ahead.
