A primary school and bowls pavilion in a South Wales village have switched to clean, renewable heating, but in an innovative way that cannot be replicated anywhere else in Wales.

Ffynnon Taf Primary School and the Pavilion at Taff’s Well Bowling Club in Taff’s Well, Wales, have had a bold new heating system installed by Kensa, the UK-based Ground Source Heat Pump specialists, that uses naturally occurring heat from the only thermal spring in Wales – the historic Taff’s Well Spring.

This unique water source heat pump system harnesses natural heat from the warm spring water, which emerges from deep beneath the earth at around 21C, to provide the two council-owned properties with low-carbon heating and hot water.

Using the innovative clean heating method instead of gas is expected to cut the school and pavilion’s carbon emissions linked to heating by close to 80%. It also demonstrated a way of using Kensa’s ground source heat pumps without drilling vertical boreholes to access heat energy stored in the ground.

The idea of using the Taff’s Well thermal spring to heat buildings was initially proposed by the Friends of Taff’s Well community group, who were looking at other ways the historic spring could benefit the local community.

The installation also highlights the versatility of Kensa’s ground source heat pump systems and forms part of Rhondda Cynon Taf Borough Council’s plans to decarbonise by 2030.

How the system works:

  • The installation at Taff’s Well pumps warm water from the spring and passes it through a nearby heat exchanger, which is connected to Kensa’s ground source heat pumps housed inside the school and pavilion.
  • Heat energy stored in the warm spring water is absorbed and converted by the heat pumps into usable energy for the school and pavilion’s heating and hot water systems.
  • While in the system, the water is confined to its own pipework, mostly hidden under the ground and out of sight, and doesn’t encounter any other substances to ensure there’s no issue of contamination or pollution.
  • To keep the connecting pipework hidden and to avoid above-ground damage, Kensa horizontally drilled hundreds of meters between the Well, the school, and the pavilion.
  • After passing through the system, the clean water is emptied back into the Well’s overflow, feeding into the River Taff.

On Tuesday, 16th July, Kensa’s Dr Stuart Gadsden visited the site, along with representatives from Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, to demonstrate to pupils from the Ffynon Taf Primary School’s Eco Committee how their new low-carbon heating and hot water system works.

Dr Stuart Gadsden, Kensa Contracting Commercial Director, said, “It was great to show the pupils how their exciting new heating system works and how it will reduce their carbon footprint.

“Using the historic Taff’s Well thermal spring as a renewable heat source is a brilliant example of how bold ideas can lead to something that benefits future generations. It’s something the whole community can be proud of, and we were pleased to play our part in making it happen.”

Ffynnon Taf Primary School Headteacher, Kathryn Price, said, “We are very excited about how Taff’s Well Thermal Spring has been utilised for the whole school community. 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.”

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