National Trust Plas Newydd switches on marine source heat pump 23 May 2014

The National Trust has completed commissioning of Britain's largest ever marine source heat pump – at Plas Newydd, the Trust's 300-year-old mansion on the North Wales coast.

This project is the first of five schemes to be completed in a £3.5 million pilot phase of the Trust's renewable energy investment programme, launched last year in partnership with partner Good Energy.

The marine source heat pump will provide 100% of the heating needed by Plas Newydd, in Anglesey, which was formerly the National Trust's greatest oil user (up to 1,500 litres per day)

The new system pumps a small quantity of sea water from the Menai Strait through pipes to and from a heat exchanger on the shore, and then up 30 metres of cliff face to the mansion's boiler house.

The 300kW marine source heat pump cost £600,000 to install and, according to assistant director Adam Ellis-Jones, is expected to save around £40,000 a year.

"With the Irish Sea right on the doorstep of Plas Newydd, a marine source heat pump is the best option for us. However ... here are very few marine source heat pumps and none of this size in the UK, so it has been a challenging project."

Ellis-Jones explains that the National Trust worked with SEACAMS (Sustainable Expansion of the Applied Coastal and Marine Sectors), led by the School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University and conservation experts.

"This project shows that cutting-edge British renewable technology can transform the energy use of some our oldest buildings," comments Juliet Davenport, founder and CEO of Good Energy.

"It's a pleasure to be part of this project with the National Trust and we look forward to seeing what the next step in their renewable energy journey will be."

The National Trust has committed to reducing energy consumption by 20%, halving fossil fuel consumption and generating 50% of its own energy from renewable sources by 2020.

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Good Energy Ltd
National Trust

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