Sea is heat source for new marina building
The sea provides the heat source for the Nibe heat-pump installation that meets the extensive heating and hot-water needs of a new marina building operated by Inverness Marina. These shore facilities provide visiting yacht crews with shower and laundry facilities. The building also includes a classroom area and the main marina office.
Renewable-energy specialist Black Isle Renewables was approached to suggest a cost-effective and efficient alternative to oil or LPG heating.
Black Isle specified and fitted a Nibe F1145 8 kW ground-source heat pump using a 400 m closed-loop pipe collector to draw heat from the marina.
Iain Thomas, managing director of Black Isle Renewables, explains, ‘Research shows that the water temperature at sea-bed level is a relatively constant 10°C all year round. Therefore it made perfect sense to make the most of the natural surrounding resource and use this renewable energy to meet the facility’s high heat demand.’
Submerged collector pipes draw energy direct from the marina basin to the heat pump, which heats water in a 750 l thermal-storage tank.
The system can achieve a COP of up to 5.03 at 0/35°C and has an integrated control system for bespoke programming and a multi-colour user display for straightforward and intuitive operation.
