Ruskin College overcomes ‘unviable’ barrier with District Heat Pump System for heritage estate

The Client 

Ruskin College, part of the University of West London, has successfully completed a scheme previously deemed financially unviable using a district heat pump system based on high-temperature R290 technology. The project includes Ruskin Hall, a Grade II listed building, demonstrating how a whole-system approach can unlock low-carbon solutions even on heritage sites.

Ruskin College, part of the University of West London, set out to decarbonise heating and hot water across a diverse and operational estate. The site includes three residential accommodation buildings, and Ruskin Hall – a large Grade II listed building providing academic and administration areas, with limited scope for fabric upgrades.

This mix of modern and historic buildings created a complex brief. The college required a reliable, site-wide solution capable of delivering consistent heating and high-capacity domestic hot water for residential use, while supporting long-term sustainability goals.

The project was delivered by Finn Geotherm in partnership with Carrier

The Challenge 

Before Finn Geotherm became involved, the scheme had already been assessed by an external consultant and deemed financially unviable. The projected costs exceeded the allowable savings under Salix funding criteria, meaning the project was not expected to proceed. The technical requirements of the project were also demanding.

The system needed to serve multiple buildings with varying load profiles, including residential accommodation where reliability and domestic hot water availability are critical. Ruskin Hall, as a listed building, placed clear limits on insulation improvements, requiring a system capable of performing effectively in a higher heat loss environment.

In addition, the plant needed to be located to support a district-style system while meeting planning requirements, particularly around noise. Works had to be carried out on a live, occupied site, requiring careful coordination to minimise disruption.

Complexity increased further, as the project required significant enabling works, including a full electrical infrastructure upgrade. The incoming power supply was only connected at the end of January 2026, leaving a very tight window to commission the system ahead of the Salix submission deadline. 

The Solution 

Finn Geotherm re-evaluated the project from first principles, taking a holistic approach that considered both system design and overall building performance. This enabled the scheme to be redesigned within budget while still meeting the required carbon reduction targets.

The final solution was based on a district-style heating system serving the entire site. At its core were four Carrier 61AQ 120 air-to-water heat pumps using R290 (propane) refrigerant, selected for their efficiency, low global warming potential and high-temperature capability.

Each unit was supplied with coil protection, high-pressure pump modules and integrated leak detection, forming a robust and resilient system configuration.

A key technical advantage was the ability of the 61AQ units to deliver high flow temperatures. The system was designed to operate at up to 70°C flow for domestic hot water, with the capability to reach 75°C where required. This enabled full compliance with hot water pasteurisation requirements without the need for immersion heaters, maintaining system efficiency throughout operation.

The system incorporates intelligent controls and when domestic hot water is required, the heat pumps ramp up to higher temperatures to satisfy cylinder demand. Once achieved, the system reverts to a lower temperature heating mode, optimising overall efficiency.

To ensure resilience, the system was designed with sufficient capacity to maintain peak performance even if one unit is offline for maintenance.

Alongside the plant design, Finn Geotherm carried out detailed room-by-room heat loss calculations across the estate. This allowed emitters to be accurately sized, ensuring that each space received the appropriate heat input, even in buildings where fabric improvements were limited.

Selective insulation upgrades were implemented where possible, including cavity wall and loft insulation in the accommodation blocks. In the listed building, the focus shifted towards optimising heat delivery rather than reducing heat loss.

The project also included significant enabling works, including electrical upgrades, trenching and distribution infrastructure, all delivered as part of a fully integrated turnkey solution.

The Result 

The completed works transformed a project previously considered unviable into a fully operational, cost-effective decarbonisation solution.

The total project value was approximately £1.7 million, with the heat pumps accounting for around £150,000. The final solution was delivered at less than half the cost originally estimated under the previous consultant-led design.

Despite delays to the electrical supply, the system was successfully commissioned within the required timeframe. Once power was available, the system was brought online quickly, with all units operating as intended from the outset.

The installation now delivers reliable heating and domestic hot water across the entire estate, supporting both residential and academic use while meeting the client’s decarbonisation objectives.

The project also strengthened client confidence, with additional works entrusted to the delivery team during the programme. This reflects satisfaction not only with the end result, but also with the quality and reliability of the delivery process.

Overall, the scheme demonstrates that complex, mixed-use estates, including listed buildings, can be successfully decarbonised when the right design approach, engineering expertise and technology are combined