Project Summary
Torbay Council commissioned geological studies and a technical feasibility report using boreholes to explore the potential of installing a ground source heat pump (GSHP) solution to provide low carbon cooling and heating for the Brixham Harbour site.
Background
Torbay Council’s carbon footprint 2022/23 was 5,011 tonnes CO2e, with the energy to light and heat the estate making up over 40% of the council’s carbon emissions. The decarbonisation of the harbour is part of Torbay Council’s Climate Change Action Plan 2024-26 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across all operations, including Torbay’s Harbours.
Brixham Harbour is located on the southern aspect of Tor Bay and boasts one of the largest fishing fleets in the UK, plus a thriving fish market to support it. Brixham Harbour is known for having the highest turnover of any harbour in the UK.
The current fish market was built in 2011 and is situated on the edge of the Brixham Harbour front. The Harbour’s energy usage and operating costs are significant. It currently emits 161 tC02e annually. The refrigeration system for the fish market consists of a packaged combined chiller and air condenser unit, with four reciprocating compressors using R1270 (Propane) primary refrigerant to refrigerate the secondary refrigerant distribution unit. Exploring a solution that would provide a low carbon cooling and heating solution for the site was the key aim of this feasibility study.
In addition to the project exploring ground source heat pumps, assessments are currently underway on potential renewable energy and energy efficiency opportunities to provide a holistic approach to decarbonising the entire site.
Location
Brixham Harbour, Brixham, Devon, TQ5 8AJ
Our Role
The feasibility study was funded by the South West Net Zero Hub as part of our Local Net Zero Fund. We also provided a critical friend role, reviewing technical documents and providing advice to the project team.
Results
The consultants produced two reports:
- A technical report – This assessed the viability of a ground source solution based on geological and borehole potential. It included the number of boreholes required based on estimated loads and the potential locations of boreholes on site.
- An investment report – This supported the case for forward investment in the solution. It included:
- An outline of the cost to develop the business case
- Justification for the forward investment of the solution
- Outline costs for an estimated 38 boreholes required to enable the ground source heat pumps to deliver estimated loads
- A comparison of the estimated annual energy and carbon emission savings compared to a gas alternative, including the potential return on investment
It was found that while the heat pumps were a technically viable solution, the payback period was estimated at 64 years, which is currently not financially viable. This is due to the prerequisite number of boreholes required to meet the estimated loads and the upfront costs of the heat pumps. The business case for the solution could improve subject to changes to the energy price levies, increasing the financial viability of the GSHP solution.
The feasibility work completed can now be used to look at the viability of other redevelopment projects in Torbay and can be applied to other sites wishing to explore ground source heat pumps using boreholes in coastal regions.
Lessons learnt
With hindsight, the project would have looked to explore a sea water inlet solution alongside the GSHP solution and compared the two solutions in terms of both their technical and financial viability. It would also have been interesting to compare the compliance and licences required for the abstraction of sea water. This would have provided an assessment of two low carbon solutions for the site and two options to consider as part of the Council decision-making process.
Next Steps
Whilst it’s clear from the feasibility work undertaken that a GSHP solution via borehole is viable for heating and cooling on site, no investment has been secured to deliver the solution due to the current payback period.
If the price of electricity is decoupled from the price of gas, it would improve the viability of the solution on financial terms. Based on the potential requirements of future tenants at the Oxen Cove, a sea water inlet solution is now being explored to enable a plant to capture waste sea water for heating and chilling purposes.
If you work within a public sector organisation and would like a copy of the reports produced, please email us at SWNetZeroHub@westofengland-ca.gov.uk.
