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OCS has teamed up with Scottish Water Horizons to deliver one of the largest solar carports in the country at Scottish Water’s head office in Stepps, North Lanarkshire, in the west of Scotland. The £2.4 million project will see 2,250 bifacial solar panels installed, creating a covered car parking area that also generates renewable energy.
Once operational, the system will produce approximately 1 MW of green energy annually, meeting over one-third of the site’s power demand and saving 160 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year – equivalent to 89 return flights from Glasgow to New York. Power generated by the panels will be managed through a new LV switchboard in a purpose-built enclosure, with cables routed via in-ground ducts and containment systems to inverters located throughout the car park. The project will be delivered in phases to maintain site operationality throughout construction.
The project marks a significant milestone in Scottish Water’s journey towards net zero, with OCS leveraging its expertise in energy management and transition projects through its dedicated Energy Services team. It builds on more than 92 solar schemes already in place on Scottish Water sites, which together generate around 28.7 GWh of green energy annually to power essential water and wastewater processes across the country. The solar carport highlights the importance of collaborative projects that generate substantial renewable energy and deliver meaningful carbon reductions on the path to net zero.
The project, expected to be completed by summer 2026, will be delivered in phases to maintain site operationality throughout construction.
Scottish Water Chief Executive Alex Plant said: “This is a really exciting project for Scottish Water and highlights our commitment to achieving our net zero targets by 2040.
“Choosing to deliver our first solar carport scheme at our head office is a clear statement of our intent. We are putting sustainability right at the heart of where we work, rethinking everyday spaces and turning them into something that is greener, smarter and ready for the future.”
Scottish Water Horizons Project Nanager Keliann Arthur commented: “After months of planning and preparatory work, it is great to see this major project starting to be delivered on site at such an important location for Scottish Water. Once complete, it will provide 34 per cent of the energy needed to operate the office and marks a very significant step in our journey towards net zero.”
Nick Maggs, Managing Director – Hard Services (UK), OCS, added: “We are proud to support Scottish Water’s commitment to net zero by 2040, delivering projects that combine innovation with real-world impact and contribute to a more sustainable future. Through our Energy Services team, we are applying specialist expertise in energy management and transition projects to help organisations develop practical solutions that achieve long-term carbon reduction and net zero ambitions.”
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