Small Heat Network: Montem Primary School Heat Recovery

Montem and Samuel Rhodes School is located on Hornsey Road in Islington, London; there are 14 classes and a 52 place nursery. The school is a Grade II Listed Building built in 1898. Construction is of solid brick load bearing walls with a large proportion of the glazing consisting of single glazed sash windows. Victorian construction and Grade II Listing means heating costs are high and insulation challenging.

National Grid has constructed a new electricity substation at 107 129 Seven Sisters Road a short distance from the school. The substation generates excess heat which has been recovered and connected to the school’s boiler room. Secondary heat circuits and a heat exchanger enable recovered heat from the substation to provide hot water and space heating to the school. All external pipework was buried and not visible to meet the listing requirements.

The heat recovery meets the school’s needs free of charge for the majority of the year with gas fired boilers supplementing during the coldest winter periods. This small scale, local heat network is saving significant costs for the school, without ongoing cost to National Grid.

National Grid has worked closely with Islington Council to deliver this project in liaison with Tom Louvre, Head of School Asset, Children Services, Mark Donaldson, Energy Conservation Officer and Joe Wilson, Principal Planning Officer and with the school business manager Paulette Edwards.

DLA Piper advised on all aspects of this transaction including real estate, planning and construction. Lewis Mellor Project Manager at National Grid said: “DLA Pipers’ involvement has been key to coordinating the parties and achieving the desired outcome for all.”