Engineering firm revamps Clydebank school's ageing heat pump network

A Midlands engineering firm, Zeuner, has refurbished an ageing school heat pump network in Clydebank to help cut both costs and carbon. Rather than fully replacing 20-year-old infrastructure, Zeuner repurposed and upgraded a ground loop heat pump system at a secondary school, with founder Chris Reilly explaining that the approach required careful balancing of the existing layout with the school’s needs. The upgraded setup now includes a 350kW ground source heat pump using natural refrigerants, designed to support a laboratory with tightly controlled temperature requirements. It also adds a heat recovery circuit and a separate chilled water supply. Zeuner says the project demonstrates that many commercial heat pump installations nearing end-of-life do not always require expensive replacement, and that tailored solutions can improve energy efficiency over the long term. The work targets schools seeking lower operating expense while modernizing performance within their existing estates.