Hydro power and heatpump system

It’s been a frosty start to the week here at Kingsdale Head, with temperatures set to drop to -11 degrees over night this week.

Safe to say, we’re feeling extra grateful for the new heating system installed last year. With help from the National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF), we’ve installed an innovative hydro-electric scheme alongside a heat pump system.

Hydro electricity

One thing we are not short of at Kingsdale Head is water and we have been able to make use of the flow of water down a stream behind our farmhouse. The water flows from higher up on site  from around 500m all the way down to the farm house (300m) and we have been able to tap into all of that potential energy, transforming just a small proportion of that flow into a renewable energy source. Thanks to the SDF grant, covering a portion of the installation costs, we've been able to make this happen.

The hydro scheme not only generates electricity to power our farm buildings but also supports our diversification projects, including a holiday let and an education room. What's more, the surplus electricity is fed back into the National Grid.

Heat pump technology

We've integrated a heat pump system into our hydro scheme, taking advantage of both water and air sources to provide hot water and heating for our holiday cottage and farm house. This brilliant bit of technology operates efficiently even in the wildest conditions we encounter here at Kingsdale Head. Still warming the houses at -11 this winter.

Through the magic of the vapor compression cycle, our heat pump achieves a coefficient of performance (COP) of around 4. In other words, for every kilowatt generated through our hydro scheme, we're able to produce approximately four kilowatts of heating capacity.

This new development makes such a difference to how warm and cosy the cottage and farm house are as well as contributing to the overall sustainability of the farm.

 Battery storage

To really make the most of the energy produced, we've included battery storage. This allows us to store excess electricity generated during peak times and use it when needed, ensuring a steady and reliable energy supply throughout the day. By integrating battery storage into our system, we're maximizing how efficiently we use the energy generated.

For more information about our hydro scheme, heat pump system, and our commitment to sustainability, feel free to get in touch.

For more information on the sustainable development fund visit, https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/park-authority/living-and-working/sustainable-development-fund/