Net Zero Pod and Solar Installation at Cotgrave Leisure Centre to reduce Carbon Emissions with pioneering and unique technology
Cotgrave Leisure Centre, Woodview, Cotgrave, NG12 3PJ. Owned by Rushcliffe Borough Council.
Outsourced operation and management to Parkwood Leisure. Subcontracted to Lex Leisure CIC.
This project is a sector leading example of a pioneering application of Air Source Heat Pump Technology within a stand-alone external packaged plant room. The Net Zero Pod (NZP) is uniquely designed for use within a leisure and swimming pool environment. Together with the installation of Photovoltaic Solar Panels, this project provides outstanding results.
The objective of the project was to reduce carbon emissions at Cotgrave Leisure Centre transitioning it to net zero and contribute to the net zero targets of Rushcliffe Borough Council. Consequently, these renewable technologies have provided the Council with an environmentally and economically sustainable much loved community facility for future generations.
Led by Rushcliffe Borough Council in collaboration with Leisure Energy as principal designer and contractor and in partnership with Lex Leisure as the facility operator, external funding was secured, along with match funding by the Council:
Net Zero Pod Installation and building integration: Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme PSDS 3b grant of £1,214,958 with total project value £2,198,000.
Roof Mounted Photovoltaic Solar Roof Panels x 212: Sport England Swimming Pool Support Funding. Value £170,000.
Overall, Cotgrave Leisure Centre is benefitting from £4.5M investment to decarbonise and refurbish the facility.
The facility benefits from 100% gas removal (Boiler and CHP). The installation of Leisure Energy’s Net Zero Pod (NZP 500) combined with the solar photovoltaic electricity generation will reduce carbon emissions from 315 tonnes to 84 tonnes, providing a saving of 73%.
The NZP acoustic Packaged Plant Room gives better quality control and ease of installation/commissioning. Designed and built off-site at our Technology Centre, it contains a twin pack Air Source Heat Pump solution operating in a duty/assist arrangement. Benefitting from natural Refrigerant (CO2) with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1, it is capable of delivering sCOP’s of 4+. Designed with a dual temperature 70°C flow, 30°C return; for swimming pools and showers/radiators.
The NZP at Cotgrave Leisure Centre has been specifically designed to contain air to water heat pumps. The NZP is the only available external plant room of this type for use at leisure facilities with swimming pools.
The NZP project combined with solar panels is unique as it makes decarbonisation affordable. More often than not, electrifying a building can result in high running costs. The air to water NZP solution will result in an environmentally and economically sustainable facility – achieving both the net zero ambitions and significantly reducing the annual running costs.
