From Peatlands to Power: Net Zero Projects Deliver Benefits Beyond Carbon

“The transition to net zero is about much more than reducing carbon emissions. It's about helping create a more resilient, sustainable and flourishing Scotland. The benefits we're already seeing across our land, assets and communities show why this work matters and why we must continue to build on that progress.”

Elise Cartmell
General Manager for Net Zero, Scottish Water

The equivalent of more than 1,000 football pitches of land has been enhanced through Scottish Water's net zero programme, delivering benefits for biodiversity, water quality and climate resilience. 
 
During 2025/26, large-scale peatland restoration and woodland creation projects at key locations such as Loch Katrine and Backwater Reservoir supported nature recovery across 733 hectares while helping protect some of Scotland's most important water sources from the impacts of climate change.  
 
Alongside renewable energy projects, this work has helped avoid 10,000 tonnes of carbon emissions – the equivalent of more than 2,700 return flights between Glasgow and Tokyo. 
 
Scottish Water's latest Net Zero Routemap annual update shows how climate action is becoming embedded across the organisation's operations, infrastructure and land management activities. From restoring habitats and generating renewable energy to adopting lower-carbon technologies, the programme is helping reduce emissions while delivering lasting benefits for people, places and the environment. 
 
The update highlights continued progress in improving the efficiency of Scottish Water's operations, with around 4.5 GWh of energy savings and 3.88 GWh of renewable electricity generation delivered during the year – enough to power around 3,000 homes for a year. 
 
Scottish Water also expanded the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a lower-carbon alternative to diesel, installing dedicated fueling stations in Glasgow, Inverness and Edinburgh to support vehicles and equipment that are not yet suitable for electrification due to operational requirements such as load and distance. 
 
Elise Cartmell, General Manager for Net Zero at Scottish Water, said: "Our net zero programme is continuing to deliver benefits across the environment, our operations and the communities we serve. 
 
"From restoring peatlands and expanding native woodland to generating more renewable energy, we're helping tackle climate change while supporting biodiversity, improving water quality and strengthening resilience to the impacts of a changing climate. 
 
"These projects demonstrate that climate action can deliver multiple benefits for Scotland, both now and in the future." 
 
The annual update also reflects the increasing complexity of the journey to net zero. While significant progress continues to be made, future reductions will increasingly depend on tackling emissions that are more difficult to eliminate, including those associated with water and wastewater treatment processes, treatment chemicals and wider supply chain activities.

Elise said: "The next phase of the journey will be more challenging as we focus on emissions that are harder to abate. 
 
"We've already demonstrated that meaningful reductions can be achieved across our operations, our land and the way we invest in new infrastructure. Since 2021, we've substantially lowered the carbon intensity of our investment programme, with lower-carbon design, materials and construction methods now embedded across project delivery. 
 
"The challenge now is to build on that progress by tackling emissions associated with treatment processes, chemicals and wider supply chains. Reducing these emissions will require new technologies, continued innovation and close collaboration with partners across the sector, but we're continuing to build the knowledge, capability and partnerships needed to meet that challenge." 
 
Scottish Water continues to invest in research, innovation and low-carbon solutions to help accelerate progress towards net zero while delivering wider environmental, social and economic benefits. 
 
Elise added: "The transition to net zero is about much more than reducing carbon emissions. It's about helping create a more resilient, sustainable and flourishing Scotland. The benefits we're already seeing across our land, assets and communities show why this work matters and why we must continue to build on that progress."