Your Experts in Energy Saving Through Innovation

Building on the experience gained from the successful implementation of the Crynant minewater scheme supported by Cardiff University’s Seren Project, Nuvision Energy (Wales) Director Dave Tucker assisted Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) in developing a case for creating a district heating project using warm water from the abandoned coal workings in Caerau, Maesteg. BCBC subsequently were successful with a grant application to Welsh Government for European Funding (ERDF) for the Caerau Minewater Project. The project will be a combined district heating scheme with ground source heat pumps for some 300 homes in Caerau in the Upper LLynfi Valley. Warm mine water from the abandoned mine workings beneath the town will be used as the renewable energy source. It is intended that the proposed district heat network will connect to heat pumps that will provide warm water for both space heating and hot water for up to 800 homes in Caerau. The project will be undertaken in phases with Phase One being borehole drilling and activation, installation of pipework infrastructure and the connection to some 300 homes. Rob Francis was project manager for the Cardiff University led feasibility study that addressed the issue of whether a “mine water” heat network is a viable option that can be successfully implemented in the village of Caerau, in the Upper Llynfi Valley, in Bridgend County Borough. The study looked at i) Ground exploration to establish the location of the old mineworkings, ii) The development of a heat generation model, iii) An assessment of the financial viability of the scheme, iv) a comprehensive review of housing type in the study area and v) An engagement strategy. The study identified demand centres, infrastructure requirements and borehole drilling options and showed that with water available at 22 degrees C, overall that the implementation of a mine water district heating network in the village of Caerau is a viable proposition. In 2018, Nuvision Energy (Wales) were appointed Project Managers for the next phase of the scheme which involved developing contract documents for a specialist consultant to undertake a ‘Detailed Project Development Study’ for the scheme.

Avoiding infection in the current pandemic is one of the most important activities in our lives. Hand washing is now routine and controlling bacteria in our homes, offices and workplaces has increased. All supermarkets now provide a hand spray for their trolleys and hand gel for shoppers. These measures will be with us for some time