Institute of Sport, Yeovil College, Somerset
Background
Yeovil College is a major further education provider serving Somerset and the surrounding region, with a broad offer that includes academic study, apprenticeships, technical training, and employer-led skills development. As part of its long-term campus transformation programme, the college launched the YC Big Build, a major re-development designed to replace older buildings with modern teaching, specialist, and performance facilities. One of the flagship elements of that programme is the new Institute of Sport, created to support student-athletes, performance sport, andspecialist training pathways.
The Institute of Sport has been developed to give learners access to modern sport-focused facilities and a professional environment for study andtraining. The college positions it as a centre for sport, football, and athletic aspirations, with a focus on combining education with sporting development. In practical terms, that means supporting students who want to progress in football, sports science, coaching, athletic performance,and wider student-athlete pathways.
Building service contractors FP Hurley based in Bridgend, Bristol and Exeter were employed as M&E contractor for the project by Teir 1 contractor BAM construction.
The heat pump equipment for the project was originally specified as another manufacturer. After consulting with ICG Heat Pumps, FP Hurley suggested changing the specified equipment to the Midea heat pump systems.
The Midea heat pump systems were accepted by lead consultant BAM Design due to their greater efficiency, lower sound levels, longer warranty (5years) and lower GWP refrigerants.
The Institute of Sport forms part of a wider campus redevelopment that includes new teaching and technical buildings, alongside the replacement of older estate buildings. The project was designed not only to improve the college’s physical environment, but also to raise the quality of the student experience and reduce long-term operational energy demand.
ICG Heat Pumps supplied a combined Midea solution consisting of:
- 2 x Midea Aqua Thermal Super (MH-SU65M-RN8L) heat pumps
- 1 x Midea MARS (MHC-V35WD2RN7) heat pump for DHW
The Aqua Thermal Super units provide heating via underfloor heating, producing water at a maximum of 48°C. These 53kW heating units are weather compensated and achieve a SCOP of 4.49,giving the building an efficient low-temperature heating system well suited to UFH.
For domestic hot water, we supplied the Midea MARS (MHC V35WD2RN7) heatpump. This state-of-the-art unit provides water at 65°C inorder to maintain domestic hot water in a 1,000-litre cylinder forthe shower and washroom demand associated with the sports facility. The heat pump is capable of heating the cylinder from cold to 60°C in 145 minutes. It is capable of flow temperatures as high as 85°C as is capable of producing water at 65°Cdown to minus 25°C.
The MARS range uses R290 refrigerant, with a GWP of just 0.02, making it a strong choice for projects seeking reduced environmental impact alongside high performance. The unit delivers 29.4kW heating capacity at the design condition (65/55 -5) and so isperfect for commercial DHW applications where hygienic hot water storage andrecovery are essential.
The result is a highly efficient heating and domestic hot water system tailored to the needs of a specialist sports facility. By providing separate DHW and space heating systems, the heating is able to operate at low-temperature with weather compensation allowing increased efficiency. DHW can be maintained at 60°C and reheated quickly without interrupting heating. The project supports both day-to-day operational performance and long-term sustainability.
For Yeovil College, the Institute of Sport strengthens the campus offer and helps create a more attractive, future-ready learning environment. For ICG Heat Pumps, it demonstrates the value of selecting the right plant forthe right application — delivering performance, efficiency, and environmental benefit in a single solution.
The new Yeovil College Institute of Sport is a key part of the college’s wider redevelopment programme and a strong example of modern education construction. ICG Heat Pumps supplied the heating and hot water plant, including 2 x Midea Aqua Thermal Super MH-SU65M-RN8L units for UFH and a Midea MARS MHC-V35WD2RN7 for domestic hot water. The result is an efficient, low-carbon HVAC solution that supports the facility’s sporting and educational use while aligning with the college’s sustainability ambitions
106KW Heating, 29.4kW DHW
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