Taff’s Well was once believed to have healing properties, and is now providing clean heating to a village school and bowls pavilion.
A heat pump fitted by Kensa uses naturally occurring properties of the site, which warms water to 21C deep beneath the earth. Harnessing this, two public buildings are now benefitting from clean power.
The one-of-a-kind installation takes warm water from the spring and passes it through a heat exchanger, connected to a ground source heat pump. Pipework ensures the water is separated from the rest of the system, avoiding any risk of contamination. Horizontal drilling was used to avoid any damage or disturbance above ground.
‘We are very excited about how Taff’s Well Thermal Spring has been utilised for the whole school community,’ said Kathryn Price, of Ffynnon Taf Primary School. ‘Our Eco Committee thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the heat pump system and how this helps to reduce the school’s carbon footprint. We will continue to celebrate the success of the thermal spring installation in our community for many years to come.’
It is hoped that the school and pavilion’s combined carbon emissions will fall by 80% as a result of the upgrade, while impact on the surrounding environment has been mitigated by the design itself. The original idea to utilise the spring water for heating was proposed by conservation group, Friends of Taff’s Well, and will contribute to Rhondda Cynon Taf Borough Council’s plans for full decarbonisation of the public estate by 2030.
Watch a video of the infrastructure launch below:
More on energy: