Marshland Primary Academy: cutting carbon with a school heat pump retrofit

How Marshland Primary upgraded its school heating

Marshland Primary Academy replaced its ageing gas heating system with Kensa’s innovative What is a Ground Source Heat Pump?Ground Source Heat Pumpsground source heat pump technology. The six-month retrofit project dramatically reduced the school’s carbon emissions, cut reliance on fossil fuels, and ensured a long-lasting, efficient heating system.

The project included two plant rooms with a combined peak heating load of 393kW:

• Main school plant room: Powered by two 15-70kW heat pumps and a 6kW Shoebox heat pump, supported by a 500L buffer tank and a 300L domestic hot water (DHW) cylinder.
• Canteen plant room: Powered by three 15-70kW heat pumps and one 6kW ShoeboxProductShoebox heat pump, with a 500L buffer tank and a 400L DHW cylinder.

To optimise efficiency, solar PVT panels provided renewable energy (34.26kW of electricity and 209.6kW of thermal energy). Additionally, 18What are Ground Source Heat Pump Boreholes?Boreholes boreholes were drilled to a depth of 127m in the school’s playing field, which was fully reinstated for continued use by pupils.

Overcoming retrofit challenges in a live school environment

Delivering a project of this scale while ensuring uninterrupted school operations posed logistical and technical challenges:

• Plant room stability: A potential delay was averted by working closely with the principal contractor to stabilise plant rooms using steel Acrow props. The contractor shared, “We are absolutely delighted with the way you work in partnership. Working with the Kensa team has been a pleasure,” leading to a strong ongoing relationship and repeat business.
• Playing field preservation: Careful planning ensured that borehole drilling left the field intact for future use.
• Construction was coordinated to avoid interfering with daily school activities, ensuring smooth progress.

Kensa’s experienced team worked closely with contractors and school management to overcome these obstacles and deliver a seamless installation.

Benefits of the ground source retrofit for Marshland Primary Academy

Going beyond just the technical side of things, the installation of the ground source heat pumps, combined with solar PVT panels and new radiators, delivered:

• Significant cost savings: The efficient systems Ground Source Heat Pump CostsCostsreduced heating bills and required minimal maintenance.
• Improved comfort: Upgraded radiators enhanced indoor thermal performance throughout the school.
• Environmental impact: A 77% reduction in carbon emissions supported the UK’s Net Zero Strategy and improved local air quality.
• Educational value: Kensa helped to inspire the next generation by taking time to explain to the pupils about the technology, renewable energy and decarbonisation in an interactive assembly, inspiring future sustainability champions.

Boosting school energy performance with solar PVT panels

A standout feature of the project was the use of solar PVT (photovoltaic-thermal) panels, a cutting-edge technology only just starting to be seen in UK schools. These panels enhance system performance by:

• Removing excess heat from traditional PV panels, boosting PV efficiency and electricity generation by ~10-20%.
• Producing higher temperature thermal energy, improving the heat pump's Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP).
• Reducing the number of boreholes required, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution.

A real win-win-win solution, made possible by the unique integration of PVT and GSHPs.

School retrofit funding and support for UK climate targets

Supported by the Government’s Condition Improvement Fund, this project aligned with the UK’s public sector decarbonisation goals, which aim to reduce emissions by 75% by 2037. By transitioning to renewable energy, Marshland Primary Academy set an example in tackling climate change and achieving sustainability in education.

Results of the school retrofit: savings, comfort and carbon cuts

This transformation demonstrated how schools can lead the transition to renewable energy. Marshland Primary Academy’s new heating system not only reduced costs and emissions but also created a healthier, more comfortable environment for pupils and staff. By partnering with Kensa, the school set a benchmark for sustainable energy solutions in education.

Commenting, Penny Marshall, Deputy Headteacher at Marshland Primary Academy, said:

Discussing the project, Wouter Thijssen, Commercial Director, of Kensa, said: