Commercial
East of England
SOFTFRUIT GROWING SEASON EXTENDED BY USE OF RENEWABLE HEATING
The largest Water Source Heat Pumps in England
Carbon Zero Consulting worked closely with two clients and Ebtech Energy Systems to design, install and provide regulatory compliance for England’s two largest Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP) systems.
The first WSHP has been operating on the river Loddon since autumn of 2020 and the second was completed in 2022 on the river Medway. Each uses renewable heat generated by the 8.8MW heat pump system, allowing the clients to grow soft fruit outside the normal growing season. Domestic production of soft fruit also greatly reduces ‘food- miles’ associated with imports from around the globe.
The process began with Carbon Zero Consulting assessing the viability of each river to be a reliable year-round energy source, which would ensure peak load heating during the coldest winter days. This required analysis of river flow, seasonal temperature and optimum locations for the abstraction and discharge structure. A large urban wastewater treatment outflow to the river Loddon was utilised to boost system efficiency.
Prior to installation, the Environment Agency regulatory requirements were completed by Carbon Zero. These included an application for abstraction and discharge, a ‘Flood Risk Activity Permit’ and assessment of ecological impact for the peak 640 litres per second river abstraction. The thermal impact on either river was shown by computation to be negligible.
The systems have operated continuously since construction with peak load being maintained despite running through some of the lowest winter temperatures recorded in the last decade.
It is estimated that, over the next 20 years the plant will save 44,000 tonnes of carbon emissions when compared to gas heating.
