NCC Case Studies

Please see our three case studies below.

Stamfordham Primary School

Lindisfarne Adult Learning Centre

Willowburn Leisure Centre

Stamfordham Primary School

This primary school in Newcastle Upon Tyne was previously heated by electric HVAC units which were expensive to run and had reached the end of their useful life. This led to the school, which was built in the 1970s with an extension added in 2014, suffering from problems with underheating.

During the summer holiday break of 2021, the old heating system was removed and replaced with a new one, that was designed specifically for lower flow temperatures, to ensure the best performance of the heat pumps. This consisted of low surface temperature radiators and high-level fan assisted units where space was constrained. The heat pumps are controlled with a smart heating control system which brings the classrooms up to temperature in the morning and keeps students and teachers comfortable and warm throughout the school day.

6 boreholes were drilled and a manifold installed under the school carpark. This was an extensive retrofit project and had to be completed during a tight six-week timeframe in the school holidays to keep disruption to a minimum. Staff and pupils at the school are said to be very pleased with the new system.

Key facts:

• 3 x 15kW Kensa Evos
• 6 x boreholes 180m deep
• Central plantroom housed in outside container
• New wet heating system, heat emitters and distribution pipework
• Replacing direct electric
• Annual school electrical consumption of 80,436kWh
• Annual heating and hot water demand of 56,304kWh
• Annual GSHP Electrical Input – 16,609 kWh (SCOP of 3.39) so for every 1 unit of electricity kWh it provides 3.39 units of thermal kWh 

Lindisfarne Adult Learning Centre

Kensa Contracting provided a ground source heating system for an Adult Learning Centre in Alnwick. The work was undertaken as part of a major programme of investment by the council on the former Lindisfarne School (which had previously been approved for demolition), to create a modern Adult Learning Centre and Community Campus.

Boreholes were drilled in the perimeter of the sports field and the heat pumps installed into existing plant room spaces in the basement. The heating distribution system was completely replaced, with low surface temperature radiators and high-level fan assisted units. To support the system, a new electrical substation was put in by Northern Power Grid, supported by Kensa undertaking the trenching.

Key facts:

• 1 commercial property
• 18 x boreholes
• 3 x ground source heat pumps totaling 150kW
• 3 x manifolds
• Approx. 341m trenching total
• Total drilling depth 3402m
• Annual gas consumption pre-project was 582,615kWh
• Annual electric consumption post-project was 120,528kWh
• 84.96t CO2e saved per annum

Willowburn Leisure Centre

NCC is responsible for the utility bills of 13 leisure centres that form part of Active Northumberland. Just 7 of these collectively annually spend at least £745,000 on electricity and gas. It was recommended that Willowburn Leisure Centre replace its expensive failing system of 8 x 160kW boilers with a ground source heat pump replacement to save energy and reduce its carbon emissions. Due to the high heat demand of the large building, commercial scale heat pumps were required to be installed and located within a new energy centre.

Key facts:

• 54 x boreholes
• 8 x manifolds
• 900kW of heat pumps in a new energy centre
• Replacing 8 x modular 160Kw gas boilers
• Annual gas consumption pre-project was 1,949,187kWh
• Annual electric consumption post-project was 402,487kWh for the heating
• 284.39t CO₂e saved per annum