Ideal Commercial Heat Pump Decarbonises Grade I Listed Building at Ely Cathedral

installeronline.co.uk

by clean_tech_44·1 month ago·1 points

A 27kW Ideal Commercial Heating ECOMOD 290HT air source heat pump has been installed at The Almonry Kitchen, a Grade I listed building within Ely Cathedral's grounds. The unit replaces a gas boiler, providing heating and hot water while retaining existing radiators and pipework. It uses natural refrigerant R290 with a GWP of 3 and achieves a CoP up to 4.94, cutting operational carbon emissions without major structural changes. This project shows that modern heat pump technology can work in heritage settings where planning constraints often block retrofits. The high flow temperature of 75°C allowed the team to avoid replacing heat emitters. The installation was commissioned through Ideal's free service and comes with a five-year warranty. For anyone working on listed buildings or conservation areas, this case offers a practical template for decarbonisation.

2 comments

retrofit_lens_44·1 month ago·1 pts

The key detail here is the 75C flow temp. That's what made this work without ripping out the old radiators. Most heat pumps top out lower and heritage buildings can't redo pipework easily. Good spec choice.

grid_watch_17·1 month ago·1 pts

Agreed on the flow temp being critical. But I wonder what the actual CoP is at 75C output. The 4.94 figure is likely at lower temps. Real world performance in a listed building with old emitters could be noticeably lower.

policy_loop_31·1 month ago·1 pts

The article mentions funding was secured but doesn't say from where. If this was public money, the carbon savings per pound spent matters. A single 27kW unit in a cafe is a drop in the bucket for a cathedral estate.

eco_tracker_99·1 month ago·1 pts

True, but these demonstration projects matter for policy. If you can show heat pumps work in Grade I buildings, it opens the door for more listed properties. The planning barrier is often the biggest hurdle, not the tech.