Livestock market expects huge return from renewable energy
An auction House in Northumberland is expecting to achieve £862 000 in energy savings and commercial Renewable Heat Incentive payments over the next 20 years after installing solar PV panels and a NIBE ground-source heat-pump system. The savings are expected to be more than double the original investment, with a return on investment of 236%.
Located in the historic market town of Hexham, Hexham & Northern Marts specialises in the auction of livestock and cattle to farmers in the north east of England.
To reduce overheads and diversify its revenue streams, the business decided it was time to replace its old gas-fired heating system with a more sustainable alternative. Minimising any impact on day-to-day operations during the transition was another key consideration.
Renewable-energy specialist Calibrated Energy Engineering, a NIBE VIP installer, was given the task of finding the right solution to meet the heating and hot-water demands of the 10 400 m2 building.
The team at Calibrate specified an installed a 300 kW ground-source heat-pump system comprising five 60 kW heat pumps, paired with a 50 kW solar PV array on the roof of the main pen area and which partially powers the heat-pump system.
The ground heat collectors were laid in the fields around the buildings, with the control unit in a prefabricated plant room to the rear of the premises.
The heat pump system heats the sales centre, including its reception area and three sales rings. The installation took just three months, with business as usual for the market.
The heat pumps are installed in cascade and meet 95% of the 394 MWh annual demand for heating and hot water, with a seasonal performance factor of 3.38.
The 50 kW solar PV array offsets 50% of the power needed to run the heat pumps.
Robin Adderley, sales and marketing director at NIBE, said, ‘The scale and scope of the Hexham & Northern Marts project are what make it truly impressive — and the figures for return on investment speak for themselves. This installation is a prime example of how taking a long-term view on energy consumption by investing in renewable really pays off.’
