Heat recovery and R-32 efficiency lead to decarbonisation pathway for global hotel group

The Client

One of the world's most recognised hotel and hospitality brands, with a large UK-wide estate, was seeking to maintain guest comfort, system reliability and energy performance as a core component of its building services strategy. This, underpinned by a proactive approach to plant replacement and lifecycle management, would aim to set a benchmark across the hospitality sector.

Carrier's relationship with the client has been built over several years through consistent delivery, technical expertise and a genuine understanding of the operational demands of hospitality environments. A commitment that has translated into tangible results. In the past year alone, Carrier has delivered approximately one chiller per month to the hotel group, a volume that reflects not just commercial success but the depth of trust on both sides.

A significant proportion of this work was delivered in partnership with a major UK banking group, one of the clients preferred mechanical and engineering contractors and a regular recipient of contractor of the year recognition in the industry. This project went on to become a strong example of what a three-way partnership can make possible.

The Challenge 

One of the world's most recognised hotel and hospitality brands, with a large UK-wide estate, was seeking to maintain guest comfort, system reliability and energy performance as a core component of its building services strategy. This, underpinned by a proactive approach to plant replacement and lifecycle management, would aim to set a benchmark across the hospitality sector.

Carrier's relationship with the client has been built over several years through consistent delivery, technical expertise and a genuine understanding of the operational demands of hospitality environments. A commitment that has translated into tangible results. In the past year alone, Carrier has delivered approximately one chiller per month to the hotel group, a volume that reflects not just commercial success but the depth of trust on both sides.

A significant proportion of this work was delivered in partnership with a major UK banking group, one of the clients preferred mechanical and engineering contractors and a regular recipient of contractor of the year recognition in the industry. This project went on to become a strong example of what a three-way partnership can make possible.

"The inclusion of partial heat recovery and R-32 refrigerant allowed us to deliver a solution that goes beyond traditional cooling. By improving part-load efficiency and enabling heat reuse, the system supports both operational performance and future low-carbon integration."

Matthew Maleki, Business Development Manager, UK&I, Carrier.

The solution

Carrier supplied three AquaSnap 30RBP, 670R air-cooled liquid chillers, with a heat recovery potential of 304 kW. These were selected following a review of the site’s available footprint, capacity and performance requirements. Final unit selection was refined close to the project delivery date to optimise the balance between spatial constraints and cooling load.

The 30RBP range features high-efficiency scroll compressor technology, designed for reliable operation and strong part-load performance, a critical consideration in hospitality settings where demand fluctuates significantly throughout the day and across seasons.

The units operate on R-32, which offers a significantly lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) compared to legacy refrigerants such as R-410A, while maintaining strong thermodynamic performance. This supports improved seasonal efficiency and aligns with the direction of travel on environmental and regulatory expectations across the industry.

The standout specification choice for this project was the inclusion of partial heat recovery as a factory-integrated option. Given the chillers' proximity to the hotel's CHP boilers and hot water generation on the same roof plant room, this was both a practical and strategically important decision. The heat recovery function captures a proportion of rejected heat from the condenser circuit and transfers it into a usable thermal output, which can support domestic hot water generation or pre-heat return water within the building's heating system.

The heat recovery configuration has been designed with the future in mind. The system is set up to allow integration with air source or water source heat pump technology, giving the hotel group a clear and low-disruption pathway to further decarbonise the hotel's heating and cooling infrastructure when the time comes. The chillers and a future heat pump system will have genuine synergy, rather than requiring a wholesale redesign.

The Result

The completed installation delivers a meaningful upgrade to the hotel's cooling infrastructure in terms of reliability, efficiency and what it makes possible next.

In the immediate term, the new chillers provide improved operational performance, lower refrigerant GWP and enhanced part-load efficiency, supporting energy savings across a range of load conditions. The integration of partial heat recovery means that thermal energy which would previously have been wasted is now contributing to the hotel's hot water and heating systems, improving the overall coefficient of performance at a building level.

Looking further ahead, the heat recovery infrastructure already in place creates a genuine and practical route toward low-carbon heating integration, whether through air source or water source heat pumps. That is the kind of foresight that distinguishes a well-planned lifecycle replacement from a like-for-like swap.

Despite the complexity of the site, the project was delivered on time and without disruption to guests. That outcome is a reflection of the planning and coordination between Carrier, the banking group and the hotel group’s engineering team.

To find out more about how Carrier can support your facility’s HVAC service and maintenance needs, call 01372 220 220 or visit www.carrier.com/commercial/en/uk