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The school’s new buildings are heated by a natural thermal spring – a first for the UK
This summer marked the anniversary of the completion of the Ffynon Taf project, an exciting scheme to update and enlarge the primary school with the construction of four new classrooms and a new hall. The project also involved the integration of a groundbreaking eco-friendly heating system, the installation of which was managed by Kensa Construction. The project involved Kier as the Main Contractor, Powell Dobson Architects, and Cambria Structural and Civil Consultants.
Ffynon Taf school is adjacent to the UK’s only natural thermal spring, in Taff’s Well. Working in tandem with the Taff’s Well Thermal Spring Heat Network Project, McCann and Partners facilitated the integration of a heating system powered by this spring, with the aim of ensuring a constant source of renewable energy year-round.
The thermal spring is used as a source of low-carbon heat, powering the heating systems of the new school block, existing primary school and pavilion building.
It is estimated by Kensa Construction, the project’s heat pump specialists, that the scheme will save approximately 776 tonnes of CO2 over the next 20 years – and it is expected to cut carbon emissions from heat by close to 80%.
The heating system works by pumping warm water from the spring and passing it through a nearby heat exchanger, which is connected to ground source heat pumps housed inside the school and pavilion. The heat energy from the warm spring water is absorbed and converted by the heat pumps into usable energy for the school and pavilion’s heating and hot water systems.
To further reduce the school’s environmental impact, McCann and Partners installed a photovoltaic array on the roof to provide renewable energy and offset the electricity use of the school.
Graham Carr, the project’s Lead Mechanical Engineer, said: “Given the importance of the Taff’s Well thermal spring both historically and within the local community, this was a particularly exciting project to be involved with.
It was a unique engineering challenge to ensure successful integration of an innovative low carbon heating solution to serve both the new school building with an energy efficient building fabric and the existing Victoria school. Ensuring both buildings are provided with a comfortable teaching environment to promote learning and wellbeing.
