Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the Net Zero Scotland Projects Conference in Edinburgh, an event that brought together an exciting mix of public and private sector voices, all focused on delivering sustainable infrastructure across Scotland. Colloide proudly supported the event as a badge sponsor, and it was brilliant to be on the ground hearing from so many organisations leading the charge on climate resilience and innovation.

Admittedly, a delayed flight meant I missed the morning sessions from Vital Energi and Veolia (you can imagine my frustration), but thankfully, I was able to catch up on what I missed through conversations throughout the day.

One of the most fascinating talks I attended was from Anzen Innovation. Dhruv Shah, their Founder and CEO, spoke candidly about the challenges with heat pump installations. His insight that many systems are oversized and overly complicated really stuck with me, especially as he pointed out that only 17% of UK homes are equipped with heat pumps. Anzen’s work aims to make these technologies simpler and more accessible, which aligns closely with Colloide’s own goals around practical, real-world engineering.

Dr. Paul Gilbert from South of Scotland Enterprise was another standout speaker. He introduced the idea of “shared heat collector networks”, a model he believes is more financially viable than traditional heat networks. He outlined several promising projects in the pipeline, including ones in Dumfries Town Centre and Crossmichael, the latter of which uses river water as a heat source. Hearing how these projects are developing at the pre-market stage was genuinely inspiring.

This particularly resonated with me given Colloide’s involvement in the Viking Energy Network Jarrow, which also harnesses river water, specifically from the River Tyne, as a sustainable energy source. It’s exciting to see more projects across the UK exploring the potential of river-based heating systems to deliver real carbon and cost savings at scale.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, brought a clear and passionate message from the Scottish Government. She made the case for UK-wide collaboration to support net-zero goals, especially in building EV infrastructure and supporting remote locations. Her remark that this is the “decisive decade” for climate action hit home and reinforced the urgency we all feel in the work we do.

Later in the day, I caught a number of quick but impactful sessions from companies working in everything from electric vehicle infrastructure (Fastned, Drax, EZOO) to sustainability software (Eden Seven), software and solutions for energy efficiency (Cotality), and hybrid heating solutions (Intergas). Each speaker added another layer to the wider picture of decarbonisation—one that Colloide is proud to be a part of through our own work in water and energy solutions.

I particularly enjoyed hearing from Cala Group and Sidey, who offered honest takes on the challenges housebuilders face in achieving net-zero goals. Their call to go “back to basics” was a great reminder that sometimes, innovation also means doing the simple things right.

It was clear throughout the day that everyone in that room is facing similar pressures, from funding to skills to data, but we’re all working towards the same goal: building a more sustainable future.

Events like this don’t just provide insight, they spark new ideas, open doors for collaboration, and remind us why we do what we do. As someone who spends most of their time writing bids and tenders, it’s refreshing to get out and hear directly from the people shaping the future.

Thanks to Net Zero Scotland for hosting such a valuable event, and to everyone I had the pleasure of connecting with. We’re proud that Colloide was able to support it, and I’m excited to see where the conversations lead.

Gold Partners: Vital Energi, Cotality, Fastned, Energy Saving Trust, Veolia, Intergas Heating Solutions, Sidney, Helvar, SWIP, Armstrong, ANZEN, Cero Earth, Drax, EZOO, CALA

Silver Partners: R&A Group, Nilan Green, 2G, Duracell Energy, Piller Power Systems, Superglass, Centreco, Green Home Systems, NextEnergy

Delegate Badge Sponsor: Colloide

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