SPECIAL FEATURES INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL HEATING AND COOLING This month: Croydons heat network, MMC at Battersea Power Station, and an energy boost for Stoke Croydon Council responds to climate emergency with ambient heating system Council aims for 34% cut in boroughs emissions by 2025 Croydon Council has launched a pilot scheme with Kensa Contracting to install a low carbon, fifth-generation ground source heat pump (GSHP) system for its residents. The GSHPs at the council-owned 10-storey residential block in New Addington will aim to cut carbon emissions, help improve air quality, and save up to 300 per home per year on more than 40 households heating bills. Croydon Council declared a climate emergency this summer, and the project aims to contribute towards a local target of cutting the boroughs carbon emissions by 34% by 2025. The 44 flats are the first in Croydon to have GSHPs retrofitted, replacing existing electric storage heaters. An individual Kensa Shoebox GSHP will be installed in each flat, connected to an ambient, shared ground loop array. The ambient nature of the heating distribution system will prevent overheating of communal areas, while the individual heat pump in each flat will give tenants independent control and GSHP drill rig the freedom to switch fuel suppliers, according to the contractor. The installations will save each home 260-300 a year on their bills, according to Kensa, as well as around 1,350kg of carbon dioxide per year the equivalent of a 242,317-mile car journey. The 700,000 heating system, expected to be completed by spring 2020, will be funded through the councils ring-fenced housing budget and via energy credits from energy regulator Ofgem. Stoke 50m district heat network boosts Urban Heat Academy Construction has started on the second phase of Stoke-on-Trents low carbon, city-wide district heat network. Sustainable energy specialist Vital Energi is installing the latest 1.9m section of the scheme, while Stoke-On-Trent Colleges Urban Heat Academy is training the engineers who will be working on the project. The district heat network scheme, led by Stoke-On-Trent City Council, will see an 18km district heat network, using geothermal thermal energy, installed over the next four to five years in a 50m project that will connect public and commercial buildings first, and then by residential properties. The district heat network is one of the key components in an overall investment of 500m in a smart energy system planned for the city over the next six to seven years. Students from the Urban Heat Academy will work with contractors and employers involved in the design, installation, management and maintenance of the district heat network through apprenticeships and work-related training. Vital Energi will be employing a local apprentice from the academy, who will be working on the scheme via day release for the duration of contract works. (See Q&A, page 97, for more on the project). MMC benefits for Battersea Power Station project Modern methods of construction (MMC) has been used to install services at Battersea Power Stations 253 new residential apartments. The power station project comprises the refurbishment and transformation of the Grade II listed building, which will house more than 100 shops, restaurants and cafes, events venue, office space, and 253 residential apartments. Packaged Plant Solutions part of Baxi Heating supplied offsite fabricated service pods for the residential apartments, after setting up a production line at its Milton Keynes plant. The final pods included a HIU/CIU for heating and cooling; mechanical ventilation heat recovery; underfloor heating; electrical distribution; and metering and billing devices. The pods also included a washing machine. Ian Lock, business development director at Baxi Heating, said: By manufacturing the full solution offsite, the risk of human error was reduced significantly, as were the health and safety risks because of the elimination of hot works on site. It also saved huge amounts of time on the overall project. To put it into context, it takes three hours to connect one unit via MMC, whereas an onsite installation can take up to five days. See the CPD on page 87 for more on offsite manufacturing of services. Rinnai aims to double in size Water heater supplier Rinnai has committed to doubling in size within the next 10 years. At a Rinnai partner event in London, the firm also revealed it is working with a government body on the future use of hydrogen in water heaters. In the past year, the company has launched a service plan initiative for customers, which will see any inspections and remedial work carried out by Gas Saferegistered engineers. Its new N series of Sensei hot-water heating units include a new scale protection and remote monitoring systems designed to enable predictive maintenance. Rinnai also launched its Zen and Zen Plus home hot-water and heating systems aimed at the middle and top end of the market which come with an Internet of Things controller. www.cibsejournal.com November 2019 49 CIBSE Nov19 pp49 Heat News.indd 49 25/10/2019 18:04