Darwin College at the University of Cambridge has had plans approved to decarbonise its riverside site which includes a river-source heat pump.
The College has previously committed to reach carbon net zero by 2032, intending to remove all gas boilers from it properties before then and only purchase 100% renewable electricity.
With six other Colleges, Darwin commissioned Mott MacDonald to produce a hydrology study of the River Cam. The subsequent 2023 report monitored the flow, depth and temperature of the water at several different locations along the river. Mott MacDonald confirmed that the River Cam had ‘considerable potential to supply heat for space and hot water heating for the adjacent colleges’.
The Pump House was designed by 5th Studio Architects and will be next to the river. It will contain all of the required technology to provide low-carbon heating, such as heat exchangers and water pumps.
The river water will flow into the basement area of the Pump House, through fine sieves to prevent the intake of plants, fish and animals. In conjunction with refrigerants, compression and expansion, the river water will heat up water in a separate circulation loop before passing back into the river slightly colder than it was before.
The structure of the Pump House on the riverbank will be three storeys in order to assimilate historic structures which previously harnessed the river’s flow for generating ‘physical power for pumping and grinding’.
Due to a delay in receiving Environment Agency permissions, building works have been scheduled for early 2026.
Although the Darwin College project is Central Cambridge’s first river-source heat pump of this scale, the technology is being used increasingly elsewhere.
The planning reference is 24/03580/FUL.
Images: 5th Studio Architects
© Eastern Echo (powered by ukpropertyforums.com).
Sign up to receive our weekly free journal, The Forum here.
