NHS Scotland leaders explore geothermal energy opportunities

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Senior leaders from across NHS Scotland came together in Aberdeen last week for an informal roundtable exploring the potential of geothermal energy and what it could mean for the future of healthcare infrastructure.

Co-organised by Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland – NHS Scotland Assure) and Geothermal UK, and hosted by CMS UK, the session brought together representatives from healthcare, industry, academia and investment to share insights and strengthen connections. The focus was on learning from emerging geothermal developments and engineering already taking place across the UK.

Building understanding of a low-carbon heat source

Geothermal energy is gaining increasing attention as a reliable, low-carbon heat source. For healthcare settings—where heat demand is constant and critical to operations—it presents a potentially valuable long-term option.

In Scotland, early feasibility work is already underway. This includes exploratory projects in Aberdeen examining how deep geothermal energy could support large healthcare estates in the future.

Bringing sectors together

Around 50 attendees joined the discussion, including colleagues from NHS Grampian, NHS Lanarkshire, National Procurement and the Scottish Government. Contributions from the British Geological Survey and the University of Aberdeen helped shape a shared understanding of how geothermal energy could move from concept to practical application within NHS Scotland.

Key themes from the discussion included:

  • The importance of sustained cross-sector engagement and evidence sharing, bringing together public bodies, industry and investors
  • A clearer understanding of NHS Scotland’s procurement processes, including how work is commissioned and commercial arrangements are agreed
  • The need to develop robust case studies to support future business cases and investment decisions

Laying the groundwork for future collaboration

Stuart Brown, Associate Director of Property, Sustainability and Capital Planning at NHS Scotland Assure, said:

“Bringing together those developing the technology with those responsible for delivering healthcare infrastructure creates space for honest discussion, shared learning, and new connections—laying the groundwork for potential future collaboration.

“At a time when NHS Scotland is navigating the transition to net zero, conversations like this really matter. This event was not about procurement or decisions—it was about understanding what’s possible and exploring how emerging opportunities could inform future choices alongside ongoing feasibility work.”

Next steps

Following the roundtable, collaborators are taking forward next steps to strengthen the evidence base around geothermal technologies, delivery models and screening approaches. This work will help inform future decision-making as NHS Scotland continues to explore low-carbon solutions to support its net zero ambitions.