Water Source Heat Pump at Crystal Leisure Centre

The Challenge faced by Crystal Leisure Centre

In 2020, Dudley Council appointed Bundle to undertake a significant renovation of the Crystal Leisure Centre, focusing on enhancing its energy efficiency.

Originally built in 1990, the centre’s outdated gas CHP system was no longer effective. The council wanted to replace the old gas system with an innovative open loop water source heat pump which needed to not only heat the building, but also warm the centre’s swimming pool.

Bundle’s Approach

Working with a specialist groundwater consultant, we secured an abstraction licence from the environment agency allowing us to tap into the natural heat of the underground water source known as an aquifer.

To make this work, we drilled an abstraction borehole in the rear car park, channelling a steady stream of warm, filtered groundwater into the leisure centre’s plant room. There, we installed four 60kW NIBE heat pumps that heat the water to 50°C, storing it in a big 2000-litre tank.

To complement this setup, a second injection borehole was drilled on the opposite side of the building to return the cooled water back into the earth, completing the system’s sustainable cycle.

The Results

By harnessing the natural heat of groundwater, the upgraded heating system at  Crystal Leisure Centre means the council will significantly cut down on the building’s operational costs. This innovative approach also represents a major stride towards fulfilling their long-term carbon reduction goals.