THE world’s largest industrial air source heat pump will be one of the most eye-catching of exhibits at the UK’s largest renewable and sustainable energy exhibition and conference, which is being held at Glasgow’s Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre on 4 and 5 May.

Developed by Glasgow-based Star Renewable Energy in collaboration with Glasgow Housing Association – one of the largest social landlords – Scottish Gas and WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff, the US-based global engineering and design consultancy, the pump extracts heat from the outside air and will be used to retrofit high-rise buildings.

“It measures over 8m long and will produce enough heat for 350 flats,” explained All-Energy Event Director, Jonathan Heastie of organisers Reed Exhibitions.

Heat and biomass – fuel developed from organic materials – will be two key areas of focus for the All-Energy 2016 event, which is free of charge to all with relevant business or professional interests.

“We know how important achieving a resilient heat system is to the Scottish Government, and certainly exhibitors and speakers are showing determination to achieve an affordable low carbon heat system for households, organisations and industry; and are eager to seize the economic opportunities that this transformation offers,” Mr Heastie continued.

Over five hours of the conference is devoted to heat, with a scene setting and policy session; a session on technology and innovation – including district heating, water source heat pumps and air source heat pumps – and another session on models and finance. The exhibition also features a dedicated heat zone, with 30 exhibitors, with a ‘Heat Visitor Trail’ and app to help guide delegates around the event.

A further hour and a half of conference time is devoted to biomass with speakers including Drax, the coal-fired power station in North Yorkshire, which is a huge biomass user. Topics will also cover the use of sustainable straw and woodchips for combined heat and power, a highly efficient process that captures and uses the heat produced as a by-product of electricity generation – and an update on the Renewable Heat Incentive, the UK government subsidy to promote the use of renewable heat.

All-Energy is held in association with the Renewable Energy Association, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group and host city Glasgow.