Case Study: Historic 16th Century Hotel Heat Pump Retrofit in Wem, Shropshire

[Introduction Paragraph] Historic sites such as the 16th-century Soulton Hall are traditionally notoriously difficult and expensive to heat. John and Tim Ashton approached Total NRG back in 2012 for help in reducing the astronomical running costs of their traditional fossil fuel heating system. We designed and installed a massive commercial-grade renewable energy system that now generates 100% green hot water and heating for the luxury 30-room manor house and its adjacent coach house.

See the link to Soulton Hall. 

If you are interested in history, see this link on Soulton Hall and William Shakespeare. 

The Project Details

Location: Wem, Shropshire

Property Type: 16th Century Tudor Home, Luxury Hotel & Wedding Venue (Commercial)

Property Size: 620m²

Heat Required: 62kW

Technologies Installed: 2x Stiebel Eltron Ground Source Heat Pumps (WPF35 & WPF27HT)

The Challenge: Decarbonising a Luxury Estate

Having previously relied on highly expensive oil and electricity to heat the sprawling, poorly insulated 620m² estate, the Ashton family wanted a sustainable, future-proof solution. The challenge was to deliver a massive 62kW of consistent heat to keep hotel guests and wedding parties in ultimate comfort, without compromising the heritage of the historic manor house.

The Total NRG Solution

Because the estate had plenty of available land, Ground Source was the ultimate option. We designed a massive, highly efficient system that leverages the constant 10°C temperature found naturally under their fields.

• The Massive Ground Array: We installed 3,000 meters of 40mm collector pipe across a 3-acre area. This was laid by a sizeable trenching machine at a depth of one meter, spaced 1.2 meters apart.

• The Commercial Heat Pumps: Heat is transferred via 90mm header pipes running 100 meters to a 16-port manifold chamber. This feeds two heavy-duty Stiebel Eltron Ground Source Heat Pumps (WPF35 & WPF27HT) housed in a former log store that we easily converted into a dedicated plant room.

• Solar PV Integration: The heat pump system is directly powered by the estate's massive 200-panel Solar PV array, which produces around 70,000kWh of free electricity every year.

The Results: £10,000 in Annual Savings 2013 (Would be a lot more at today's oil costs!)

By demonstrating that, with the right technology and expert design, it is possible to retrofit green energy into a 16th-century building, Total NRG has completely transformed the estate's running costs.

By ditching oil and standard electricity, Soulton Hall is now saving more than £10,000 each year on fuel costs while achieving a massive, permanent reduction in its CO2 emissions.

Do You Manage a Commercial Property or Historic Estate?

If you own a large country home, a hotel, or an agricultural estate, the financial returns on commercial Ground Source Heat Pumps and Solar PV are staggering.

Stop losing money to fossil fuels. Contact Total NRG today to arrange a comprehensive commercial site survey and discover exactly how much your business could save.

Get a Free Commercial Estimation