Orston Parish Council Feasibility Report - V3

Feasibility Study – Community Renewable Energy
Systems
Orston Parish Council
6044 - ORS
31 March 2022
Contents Page
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary 1
Site Location of Potential Renewable Energy Generation Systems 2
Operation and Governance 2
Use of Technology 2
Scheduling 3
Financial Projections 3
Village Hall 5
St Mary’s Church 17
Community Engagement 25
Community Benefits 29
Financial Support 31
Planning & Permitting 34
Conclusions 36
Executive Summary
The objective of this project was to prepare a study into the feasibility of successfully developing
community based renewable energy systems at the Village Hall and St Mary’s Church in the village of
Orston, Nottinghamshire.
The review considered a range of technologies, and the details are included within this report and its
appendices. The report is divided into the findings for each of the buildings.
The feasibility study covered a range of technologies including:
• Air and ground source heat pump’ technologies, including vertical and horizontal ground
source heat generation.
• Solar PV.
• Battery storage to maximise benefits of solar PV generation.
• Provision of electric vehicle charging points. A community survey was undertaken to gauge
the potential demand for a community-based charging point.
The study also assessed:
• Replacing the existing heating systems currently powered by natural gas boilers with a
sustainable alternative.
• The potential viability of the community buildings as a location for renewable energy
generation and demonstration hub.
• The current carbon emissions associated with the Village Hall and St Mary’s Church
• Improvements to the insulation within the Village Hall.
• Potential planning issues.
• The financial viability of the individual projects
The detailed results of the study are included in the body of the report and the conclusions at the
end.
This review was undertaken during a period of Covid-19 restrictions which had a significant impact
on the ability to obtain quotes from potential suppliers. As a result of this, estimates have been made
for a number of items within the report based on previous experience.
Pro Enviro Ltd, 8 Davy Court, Central Park, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV23 0UZ 1
Issue 1.0
Site Location of Potential Renewable Energy Generation Systems
The study covered two properties at two different locations.
The Village Hall is located at:

Orston Village Hall
Lombard Street
Orston
NG13 9NG
St Mary’s Church is located at:

Church Street,
Orston
NG13 9NS
The renewable energy generations system discussed within this report all fall within the boundaries
of the two properties.
Operation and Governance

The Village Hall is managed by the Orston Village Hall Committee and the Church by the Parochial
Church Council of St Mary’s Church, Orston.
Members of The Orston Parish Council, the Orston Village Hall Committee and the Parochial Church
Council of St Mary’s Church have declared that these organisations are properly constituted and able
to make decisions relating to the two properties.
These organisations will provide operational management and governance for any future projects
located at the properties.
Use of Technology
The following renewable energy technologies have been considered within this feasibility study:
• Solar PV and battery storage
• Ground source heat pump
• Air source heat pump
The following items have also been considered:

• Electric vehicle charging based on the use of energy generated by renewable sources.
• Gas powered replacement heating systems
Issue 1.0
Scheduling
It is important to undertake any energy efficiency improvement prior to the installation of renewable
technologies to ensure that consumption is minimised before the source of the energy is displaced.
This helps ensure that the correct size solution is selected for each appropriate renewable energy
technology. A sizing exercise should be undertaken when any decision has been made to progress
with one or more of the potential technologies discussed within the feasibility study.
The technologies covered within the study are not expected to require long planning processes
should a decision be made to progress with any specific technology and therefore there are no
specific scheduling issues to be considered.
Financial Projections
The tables below show the financial projections for each of the technologies that are considered to
be viable in each location. It is important to note that it is not always possible to add up the total of
all the savings as some are impacted by others and a view needs to be taken once all the potential
options have been reviewed,
It is also important to note that both sites currently have low levels of consumption and expenditure
on energy and the financial and carbon savings relating to each technology is low and in the case of
heat pump technology in the Village Hall the running costs associated with switching from gas to
electricity is negative although it creates a carbon saving.
kWh Cost Capital Payback tCO2e

Village Hall Notes
Saving Saving £ Cost £ Yrs. Saved
Lighting improvements - LED 414 120 1629 13.6 0.088
Insulation and Windows 3780 136 4790 35.2 0.692
Savings will be lower if

Air to water heat pump 20,000 718 9500 13.2 3.663 insulation and new windows
installed
This cost would not be incurred
Heat pump running -4760 -1121 0 n/a -1.011
if fitted with solar pv system
Running cost increase but
Total 15,240 -403 9500 n/a 2.653
carbon savings
Replacement radiators 0 0 3700 n/a 0
Maximum saving based on

Solar PV 2700 636 18540 29.1 0.573
current consumption
Running costs would be nil if

EV Charging Point 0 0 850 n/a 0
fitted with solar pv system
Issue 1.0
The benefits of removing the current heating system (20,000 kWh) have been shown on one row of
the table above and the cost of running the heat pump to replace it on a second line so as to clearly
show the impact of the gas saving and the cost associated with increased electricity consumption to
run the pump. The split between the two technologies also shows the savings in gas consumption and
the increase in electricity but also clearly shows the carbon saving by replacing gas with electric.
It has been assumed that the costs associated with the EV charging unit would be recharged to the
user of the unit. No allowance has been made in these calculations for income generation.

St Mary's Church Notes
Replacement gas boiler 3000 150 3750 25.0 0.549
Underfloor heating 0 0 84960 n/a 0
Solar PV 9630 1234 16000 13.0 2.045
This would need to be done in

EV Charging Point 0 0 850 n/a 0 conjunction with the local
authority
The current boiler would be replaced with a more efficient gas boiler.
It is believed that the church could be open for many more events and used during the week if the
heating issues could be addressed. The church’s management team believe that the current opening /
usage hours could be extended by a factor of 10 if the right environment could be created. If this
extended period of operation is taken into account and the cost of electricity increases from the
current rate of 12.8 p/kWh to 35 p/kWh which is more representative of current rates the financial
analysis for the options at the Church would improve significantly as shown in the table below.

St Mary's Church Notes
Replacement gas boiler 30000 1500 3750 2.5 5.495 Extended use of the building
Underfloor heating 0 0 84960 n/a 0
Solar PV 9630 3371 16000 4.7 2.045 Extended use of the building
Issue 1.0
Village Hall
The Village Hall was constructed in the
1950’s and is used for regular groups,
special events and for private hire. The
building is believed to be a solid brick
wall construction although it is possible
that there is a 50mm cavity between the
two brick courses. The Hall has a
Rosemary tiled roof.
The main hall has a concave ceiling which

would have been typical at the time of
construction. The void above the
concave ceiling is accessible from outside
and is approximately 2m between the
peak of the roof and the apex of the ceiling.
The main hall has a floating timber dance floor with a 700mm gap over a concrete floor, and the
remaining areas are understood to have solid floors. The majority of the building is double glazed
with only 4 single glazed windows remaining.
The building has a gas-powered heating system and has two

boilers, the main boiler was not accessible at the time of the
review; There is a second, smaller boiler in the bar store
cupboard. Heating is distributed by cast iron radiators with
rudimentary control valves. The heating system also has a
room thermostat controlling the boiler.
The lighting in the main hall consists of 12 T8 fluorescent

tubes and 6 wall mounted bulkhead lamps.
The building has car parking spaces within the grounds of the Village Hall.
Baseline Data
Seven months of electric and gas data was supplied for the Village Hall and this data has been
extrapolated to represent a 12-month period and has subsequently been used as a baseline when
obtaining quotations for each of the elements of the study. The related carbon emissions for the
estimated consumption have been calculated.
Electricity
The Village Hall has two single phase electricity supplies and for the purpose of this review these
have been combined. It is important to note that all the meter readings for the past 12 months have
been estimated. It is recommended that regular meter readings are taken to ensure that accurate
bills are received, and accurate consumption data can be recorded for monitoring purposes.
Issue 1.0
Both supplies are charged at the same rate of 23.56 p/kWh and a standing charge of £143 per annum
is applied to one of the supplies. The recent increases in energy costs could have a significant impact
on the costs experienced by the Village Hall and St Mary’s Church. The current electricity contract
for the Village Hall expires on 23 May 2023, if nothing changes in the energy market between now
and the end of this contract the rates could be expected to increase by as much as 50% at this time.
The estimated consumption based on the information available at the time of the review is between
2,600 and 3,000 kWh with a cost between £612 and £707 for consumption plus a standing charge of
£143 per year.
Using the Defra Green House Gas Conversion tables for 2021 the carbon emissions for this level of
consumption are between 0.55 and 0.64 tCO2e per year.
Gas
Gas data for the period May 2021 – December 2021 was provided for use in the review. As with the
electricity invoices, most of the gas invoices are estimated apart from one actual reading taken at the
end of November 2021. The lack of accurate data means it is not possible to create a meaningful
consumption profile for the gas consumption. The impact of the one actual reading can be seen in
the chart below that shows the consumption according to the invoices received.
The estimated annual consumption based on the information available at the time of the review is
between 17,000 and 20,000 kWh with a cost between £610 and £718 for consumption plus a
standing charge of £110 per year. The limited information provided means that this estimate is not as
accurate an assessment of the potential consumption as would be preferred for the report. It is
recommended that additional data is collected from the Village Hall Committee and the estimate
revised if appropriate. Due to the relatively low level of consumption within the Hall it is not
anticipated that any additional information will make a significant difference to the recommendations
within the report.
Issue 1.0
Lighting
The lighting in the main hall consists of 12 T8 fluorescent tubes and 6 wall mounted bulkhead lamps.
These could be replaced with LED equivalents, either as a onetime project or as they fail. The benefit
of doing them all as a onetime project include receiving the benefits of the changes earlier and
reducing the overall cost of the installation due to the height of the fittings in the hall. The
disadvantage is that the capital cost needs to be invested in one lump sum.
The summary below shows the current lighting in the hall and an estimate of the consumption and
cost of the lighting in a 12-month period.
Total
Power Total Power Hours per
Area Current Fitting Qty Consumption
(kW) (kW) Annum
(kWh)
Village Hall 6ft T8 0.077 12 0.924 750 693
Fluorescent bulkhead 0.030 6 0.180 750 135
18 1.104 828
The potential benefits of LED fittings are shown in the tables below.
Total
Total Power Hours per
Area Proposed Fitting Power (kW) Qty Consumption
(kW) Annum
(kWh)
Village Hall LED Batten 0.040 12 0.480 750 360
LED Bulkhead 0.012 6 0.072 750 54
18 0.552 414
Issue 1.0
Annual tCO2e
Annual kWh Saving Annual Cost Saving
Saving
414 £120 0.088
The cost of the replacement of the lighting has been calculated at £1,629 which would result in a
payback period of 13.5 years. Should the usage of the hall increase, or the cost of electricity increase
in the future, the payback period will be reduced.
Insulation
Although the majority of the building is double glazed, there is limited insulation to the remaining
fabric of the building.
Work done by the Carbon Trust indicate the following approximate breakdown of heat losses in an
average building.
Double glazing is now a minimum requirement when replacing windows (except where the listing or
conservation area exempts the building) and replacing the four windows that are still single glazed
within the building will reduce the level of heat loss. The cost of replacing the windows will range
from between £1,600 and £2,400 dependent upon the design and availability of frames to match
those currently in place.
Issue 1.0
Installing loft insulation in an uninsulated pitched roof is likely to be the single most cost-effective way
to improve the efficiency of the building fabric and save money. Insulated loft spaces in a building can
reduce heat loss through the roof by over 80%. There is no known insulation within the roof space
above the hall ceiling. The installation of insulation materials with a minimum thickness of 200mm and
a thermal conductivity value of no more than 0.044 W/mK will reduce the heat losses through the
roof.
There is often a choice to be made between materials that have a high level of embedded carbon and
more natural and low embedded carbon materials. There is a risk that insulation with high embodied
energy will not sufficiently reduce carbon emissions during its life expectancy to offset the emissions
generated in their production, which can be extensive.
The size of the roof that requires insulating is approximately 160m2 and the cost of insulating this
area will range between £1,265 and £1,525 dependent upon the specific brand of material purchased,
Mineral and glass wool rolls have good thermal performance and are vapour permeable, lightweight
and non-combustible. Installation tends to be straight forward, but these are manufactured materials
and have a relatively high level of embedded carbon.
Insulation materials such as sheep wool, cellulose (made from plant fibres or recycled paper) and
hemp provide good levels of insulation and moisture control with relatively lower levels of
embedded carbon. However, these products tend to be more expensive than the mineral and glass
wool products. The choice of potential insulation materials is wide ranging and can depend very
much on the personal preferences of the property owner, the key is to ensure that adequate
insulation is installed.
Buildings with hard-to-treat cavity walls and where they are exposed to wind driven rain and where
cavities are not completely clear should avoid cavity wall insulation. There is a risk that moisture can
be carried through the wall and appear on the internal surface. There is also the risk of gaps being
left, leading to cold spots and thus causing condensation, damp and mould
As has been identified already in the report, the estimated annual consumption based on the
information available at the time of the review is between 17,000 and 20,000 kWh with a cost
between £610 and £718 for consumption. Based on the higher of these two levels of consumption,
the combined savings associated with the insulation and the replacement of the remaining single
glazed windows would be 3,780 kWh (0.7 tCO2e) and £136.
Issue 1.0
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR)
The potential use of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) was considered as an
alternative form of heating for the Hall.
MVHR systems are based on air supply, air extraction and transfer zones within the building. A heat
exchanger is used to extract heat (energy) and fans provide the air movement. Most systems have
ducting to the various rooms.
MVHR Systems provide controlled ventilation with slow but constant air movements. In contrast,
natural ventilation through background ventilators (trickle vents) is a form of uncontrolled
ventilation, which fluctuates with wind speeds, temperatures, internal obstructions, such as the
opening or closure of internal doors, trickle vents, blinds and curtains. Because of this, it is normally
recommended that MVHR systems are only installed in properties with good levels of air tightness,
ideally below 3 m3/(m2*h). It is unlikely that the Village Hall meets these standards of ait tightness
and the relatively low levels of occupancy mean that the capital investment required would be
significant in relation to the level of potential benefit gained from the installation of the system.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
A ground source heat pump was considered as an alternative source of heating for the Village Hall.
Heat pumps remove heat from a natural source - such as the ground, a body of water or the air -
and release this at a secondary location. As they utilise a pump mechanism, heat pump systems
require a certain amount of electricity to operate, however the energy source they are accessing, i.e.,
the heat in the water, ground or air, is a renewable one.
Ground source heat pumps use pipes buried in the ground to extract heat from the earth. This is
generally used to heat radiators or underfloor heating systems and hot water. In the UK, the
temperature at several meters below ground surface is consistently between 10°C and 12°C. This
can be utilised for the purpose of cooling in the summer and heating in the winter.
Issue 1.0
A ground source heat pump circulates a mixture of water and antifreeze around a loop of pipe,
termed a ground loop, which is buried in the ground. Heat from the ground is absorbed into the fluid
which is pumped through a heat exchanger in the heat pumps evaporator system. This low-grade
heat passes through the heat pump compressor, which concentrates it into higher temperature
useful heat. This is now capable of heating water for the hot water and heating circuits of a building.
Ground loop fluid - now cooler - passes back into the ground where it absorbs further energy in a
continuous process.
The length of the ground loop is dependent on the area of land available and the heating
requirements. The longer the loop, the more heat that can be drawn from the ground, however
more space is needed to accommodate it. Trenches are dug around two meters deep, in which the
horizontal ground loop is laid flat or coiled. If space is limited, a vertical loop may be installed to a
depth of around 100m in a borehole.
Heat pumps deliver heat at lower temperatures over much longer periods when compared to oil or
gas boilers. This may mean leaving the system running 24/7 during the winter to ensure efficient
space heating. In addition, radiators will not feel as hot to the touch as when using a gas or oil boiler.
The heat pump itself is electrically driven, and typically for each kilowatt (kW) of electricity, between
3.5 and 4 kW of renewable energy is extracted from the ground. The ratio of heat delivered to
electricity used is termed the coefficient of performance (COP). A coefficient of performance is also
described as the multiplication effect by which the pumps use environmental heat sources (water,
ground, air and the electricity to extract it) and this supplied energy is transformed into more
Issue 1.0
thermal energy for use to provide heat to the user. The COP for ground source heat pumps is in
the region of 3.5 to 4. Modern heat pump systems are very energy efficient. The coefficient of
performance is approaching 4.0, meaning that for every kW of electricity used to run the pump, 4
kW are delivered to the building. Ground source heat pumps typically range from 3.5 kW to 35 kW
in capacity; however large capacity ground source dedicated heat pumps up to around 400 kW are
available.
Benefits of GSHP systems
Ground source heat pumps offer a broad range of advantages:
• The heat from the ground is renewable and effectively infinite

• Ground source heat pumps produce energy with much lower greenhouse gas emissions than
typical gas or oil-fired boilers
• Using a ground source heat pump system can dramatically lower fuel bills, especially if
currently using conventional electric heating. When linked with solar panels to operate the
heat pump they become even more efficient in term of carbon emissions.
• Ground source heat pump systems are classed as a 'fit and forget' technology because they
need little maintenance
Installation considerations
Ground source heat pumps are not suitable or practical for all properties. Factors which need to be
considered include the area of land available, current insulation levels and heat distribution system
within the building. Consideration must be given to the accessibility of the area for any necessary
machinery.
Ground source heat pumps are most suitable for properties which currently rely on solid fuel or
electric heating. For those with modern gas heating, the benefits must be assessed very carefully.
Cost Considerations
Based on an assessment of the potential heat loss of the building a 15 KW output unit would be
required. This can be run from a single-phase supply.
It is recommended that the unit is for heating only as water consumption in the hall is low and
domestic hot water could be provided by instantaneous electric hot water heaters.
The unit would incorporate an inverter driven heat pump to reduce the need for a buffer tank which
will also reduce the space required by the unit.
The installed cost of a 15 KW inverter driven heat pump would be £17,000 plus an allowance of up
to £10,000 for the deep bore holes to feed it. The actual cost of the boreholes would depend on the
Issue 1.0
geology of the ground at the Village Hall. There is insufficient space around the Village Hall to lay
horizontal heat extraction pipework, but it is understood that the ground would be suitable for
vertical boreholes being a mudstone with possibly a thin gypsum seam above.
Air Source Heat Pump
Air source heat pumps (ASHP) operate in the same way as ground source heat pumps and are
commonly used to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems or warm air convectors and hot water
within a building, air source heat pumps absorb heat from the outside air in the same way that a
fridge extracts heat from within. Air source heat pumps can extract heat from the air when outside
temperatures are as low as minus 15°C.
Heat from the air is absorbed into a fluid which is pumped through a heat exchanger in the heat
pump. Low grade heat is then extracted by the refrigeration system and, after passing through the
heat pump compressor, is concentrated into a higher temperature useful heat capable of heating
water for the heating and hot water circuits of a building.
There are two main types of air source heat pump system:
• An air-to-water system distributes heat via the wet central heating system. Air source heat
pumps work much more efficiently at a lower temperature than a standard boiler system, so
they are more suitable for underfloor heating systems or larger radiators, which give out
heat at lower temperatures over longer periods of time. Underfloor heating work best
where there is a constant demand for heating and in building with regular and frequent
occupancy. The Village Hall is not currently used in this way and would require a more “heat
on demand” capability to accommodate the requirements of the occupants. The main hall
within the Village Hall has a floating wooden floor which is not appropriate for underfloor
heating for two reasons. The first reason is that the floor floats 700mm above a concrete
base and it would not be possible to effectively control the heat loss underneath the floor.
The second reason is that many solid wood floors are unable to cope with the constant
changes in temperature from underfloor heating and are likely to become damaged and
warped. It is recognised that more modern engineered wood floors are capable of utilising
underfloor heating but if this was the case with the Village Hall it would not compensate for
the other two limitations of underfloor heating in this instance.
• An air-to-air system produces warm air which is circulated by fans to heat a building. They
are unlikely to provide hot water as well.
As with the ground source heat pumps the ASHP is electrically driven, and typically has a SCOP value
of 3.5. As has been mentioned previously, the Coefficient of Performance is a ratio that describes the
efficiency of a system. It is based on the relationship between the power (kW) input to a system
compared to the amount of power that is output. A Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP)
value in heating give an indication of anticipated real-life performance that takes into consideration
the changes in energy efficiency over the course of a year that impact on the performance of the
systems.
Issue 1.0
Benefits of ASHP systems
Air source heat pumps offer the same benefits as ground source heat pumps and are generally easier
to install than a ground source heat pump, but efficiencies are normally lower. Ground source heat
pumps generally have an increased level of performance across a year because the energy source
they draw on, heat in the ground, is at a more consistent temperature throughout the year. The
efficiency performance of air source heat pumps will vary throughout the year dependent upon the
ambient temperatures. When air temperatures are lower, the air source heat pump need to work
harder or longer to generate the heat required although they will still work effectively in
temperatures as cold as 15°C.
Power outputs
Air source heat pumps can range in power capacity from 3 kW to over 100 kW. Sizes range from
4.5 kW to 15 kW on single phase electrical supply for domestic use. There are several factors which
should be considered before choosing the size of air source heat pump, including the level of
insulation, the area to be heated, the window area within the building and the climate.
Installation considerations
Air source heat pump systems are not suitable for existing buildings where the level of insulation, and
the age and style of heating distribution is unknown.
Air source heat pumps are an ideal solution where space is at a premium or where there is no
outside space. They can be installed anywhere where there is a constant access to outside air. This
can range from being rested on the ground outside, fixed to a wall or in a loft with ducting to the
outside.
Cost Considerations
A 15 kW HT (high temperature) output air to water ASHP with controls and a weather
compensating thermostat would cost between £9,000 and £10,000 to install.
To generate the same heat output as is used at the present time, 20,000 kWh, would require 5,714
kwh of electrical energy to power the heat pump based on a coefficient of performance of 3.5. If the
system is used primarily for heating with limited hot water production this may have an impact on
the COP achieved. This would be determined at a detailed design stage when HT heat pump systems
could be evaluated.
This could be used to simply replace the current boiler because a HT heat pump can achieve
temperatures up to 65°C in the same way that a gas boiler does, or larger replacement radiators that
are designed for use with heat pumps could be installed for a heat pump operating at 50°C.
Issue 1.0
The cost of installing / replacing 8 radiators within the Village Hall is estimated at approximately
£2,500 for the radiators and £1,200 for installation.
Solar PV
The single-phase supply to the Village Hall restricts the size of potential PV arrays but a split inverter
design will maximise the available energy generation capacity. It is important to note that an
application needs to be made to the District Network Operators to connect an array of this size. A
copy of the form is included with the report.
The representation to the left shows a roof

design for a 15 kWp solar PV retrofitted
system, grid-connected using 2 x 3.68kW
Hybrid inverters.
This system will produce approximately

13,380 kWh of usable solar electricity over
the year, the 5 kWh battery will provide
evening time power when the solar stops
generation.
The table below shows the expected level of generation over the year for a system of this size.
The performance of solar PV system is impossible to predict with certainty due to the variability in
the amount of solar radiation (sunlight) from location to location and from year to year. This
estimate is based upon the standard MCS procedure is given as guidance only. It should not be
considered as a guarantee of performance.
Issue 1.0
The cost of the system, including 5 kW battery storage system is quoted at £18,540.
Given that the estimated consumption at the Village Hall, based on the information available at the
time of the review is between 2,600 and 3,000 kWh, a 15 kWp system is larger than would be
expected. The system has been sized to accommodate a growth in the level of activity in the hall, a
heat pump and an electric vehicle charging point.
Electric vehicle (EV) charging points
The Village Hall has the potential and the space to provide an electric vehicle charging point on the
premises.
The survey that was undertaken showed that four people within the surveyed group currently have
an electric vehicle. The survey also indicated that most of the people surveyed are considering
purchasing an electric vehicle within the next five years. It is recognised that they survey was
completed by a self-selecting group and is therefore not necessarily representative of the village as a
whole, however even if only half of those people who say they are considering acquiring an electric
vehicle in the next five years do so, then there will be a significant number of electric vehicles within
the village. The results of the survey suggest that the establishment of electric vehicle charging points
within the village could be considered as useful and the Village Hall has the necessary facilities to
provide that charging point.
The single-phase supply and electrical infrastructure within the hall mean that there is only capacity
available for a single charging point at the hall. This limitation has been identified by all the potential
suppliers who were contacted as part of this review. Subject to a final site survey and the
confirmation of any solar pv and battery installation, the cost estimate for the supply and installation
of a single EV charging point is between £800 and £900.
A dedicated parking space could be created for the use of electric vehicles. The most appropriate
space is one close to an external wall of the building to ensure that the charging point is as secure as
possible and in a place that it is not likely to be accidently damaged.
Free to use chargers i.e., ones that are installed at a home or to a standard single-phase supply, are
simply plug and go systems. There are various connectors required to charge different makes and
models of EV which should be provided when the vehicle is purchased, all the cables are universal at
the charger end. On average it takes approximately 9.5 hours to fully charge a vehicle using this type
of charger. To fully charge an electric car using the standard charger costs approximately £5. While it
may currently be time consuming to charge electric vehicles, the carbon savings are significant if the
vehicle is charged using energy from a renewable source.
Issue 1.0
St Mary’s Church
This is a Grade 1 listed building belonging to the Church of England and dates mainly from the 12th to
14th centuries
Baseline Data
Eight months of electricity was supplied for St Mary’s church and this data has been extrapolated to
represent a 12-month period and has subsequently been used as a baseline level of consumption for
this review.
Very limited gas consumption data was available, and the potential gas consumption level has
estimated based on information provided relating to gas usage during services and the bill data that
was available.
The related carbon emissions for the estimated consumption have been calculated.
Electricity
The Church has one single phase electricity supply. The data provided covered an eight-month
period but only included 4 data sets with two of those covering three months each and the other
two covering 34 days and 13 days respectively. It is important to note that all the meter readings
within the data provided are all estimated, it is recommended that regular meter readings are taken
to ensure that accurate bills are received, and accurate consumption data can be recorded for
monitoring purposes.
Issue 1.0
The supply is charged at a rate of 12.81 p/kWh and a standing charge of £128 per annum is applied to
the total bill. It is important to note that this is a very low unit rate in comparison to rates in the
marketplace right now. It is not known when the church electricity contract expires but it is
recommended that this is established as soon as possible to ensure that the best rates available can
be secured before the end of the contract to ensure that punitive out of contract rates are not
charged. The recent increases in energy costs will have a significant impact on the costs experienced
by St Mary’s Church and the rates could be more than three times the current rate when it is
renewed.
The estimated consumption based on the information available at the time of the review is between
11,000 and 12,000 kWh with a cost between £1,400 and £1,540 for consumption plus a standing
charge of £128 per year.
Gas
The heating is currently provided by a gas fired Ideal Mexico RS100 boiler which is more than 20
years old. The boiler supplies heat through a wet radiator system.
Gas data for the period July 2021 – November 2021 was provided for use in the review. The gas data
included estimated readings and the lack of accurate data means it is not possible to create a
meaningful consumption profile for the gas consumption. Additional data was provided on the
measured gas consumption during a church service, and this has been used to establish an estimate
for the annual consumption. It is important to note that the consumption level is low in real terms.
The estimated annual consumption based on the information available at the time of the review is
5,200 kWh with a cost of £260 for consumption plus a standing charge of £90 per year.
consumption are 1.0 tCO2e per year.
Future Plans
It is hoped to expand the opening hours of the church in the future as a meeting space and
community space / café. If the church was able to achieve this ambition and increase occupancy to 6
days per week and up to 8 hours per day the energy consumption for both heating and lighting could
increase by a factor of 10 if the same consumption patterns are seen as are currently experienced.
Issue 1.0
Solar PV
As with the Village Hall, the single-phase supply restricts the size of potential PV array. but a split
inverter design will maximise the available energy generation capacity. Options for a 7.6 kWp
without a battery pack and a 12 kWp system with a 5 kWh battery pack have been assessed. It is
important to note that an application needs to be made to the District Network Operators to
connect an array of this size.
The 7.6 kWp system will generate approximately 6,770 kWh per year and can be used to provide
lighting and basic hot water systems for the facility and possibly provide power to an EV charger
during the summer months. The cost of this option is approximately £13,000.
The second system, with a battery pack may be more appropriate. A 12 kWp system would generate
approximately 10,700 kWh of usable solar electricity over the year, the 5Kw battery pack will
provide evening time power when the solar panels stop generating.
The cost of the system, including 5 kW battery storage system is quoted at £16,000.
Given that the estimated consumption at the Church, based on the information available at the time
of the review is between 11,000 and 12,000 kWh, a 12 kWp system would be sufficient to meet the
needs of the Church and provide support for electric water heating and EV charging via the battery
system. The variable nature of the consumption at the Church means that there will be times when
solar panels cannot provide the energy required but the battery storage system will support a
reduction in overall consumption.
With the battery pack it should be possible to use 90% of the energy generated
Issue 1.0
Issue 1.0
Electric vehicle (EV) charging points
The Church has the potential to provide a street side charging point for use by residents or church
users. However, street side charging points can only be installed by local authorities and an
agreement would need to be made with the appropriate authority for one to be made available.
A dedicated parking area would need be created for the use of electric vehicles along one of the
roads that form a boundary to the Church.
A wall mounted or upstand with a mounted charging point would not be allowed on the church or
within the church as these are not allowed within a site designated as a scheduled monument or
within a listed building.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
The technology of ground source heat pumps has been explained in the Village Hall section of the
report.
The Church is understood to have access to ground adjacent to the building that could possibly be
used for the pipework associated with a ground source heat pump.
However, given the low levels of insulation within the building and the lower operating temperature
of most heat pump technologies and the lack of availability of high temperature heat pumps above
15kW it is not believed that this would be an appropriate technology for the heating of the building.
A more practical approach would be to replace the current boiler with a more efficient gas-powered
boiler.
Insulation – Secondary Glazing

Churches the age of St Mary’s are very difficult to draught proof and the historic buildings
requirements make the installation of double-glazing units virtually impossible. Although adequate
ventilation is important in older buildings, excessive air leakage through windows is uncomfortable
Issue 1.0
for occupants and wastes heat. Secondary glazing when carefully designed and installed allows the
original windows to be retained unaltered, and where necessary repaired, whilst reducing air leakage
and conducted heat losses. As a result, there is no loss of historic fabric and in most cases the
installation is easily reversible. Research has shown heat losses by conduction and radiation through a
window can be reduced by over 60% by using secondary glazing with a low emissivity (Low-E) hard
coating facing the outside1. The research has also shown that further savings can be made if the
secondary glazing uses insulating frames or incorporates double glazed units. Besides increasing the
thermal performance of windows, secondary glazing can have a number of other benefits including
being highly effective at reducing noise.
Altering the thermal performance of older buildings is not without risks. The most significant risk is
that of creating condensation which can be on the surface of a building component or between layers
of the building fabric, which is referred to as ‘interstitial condensation’. Condensation can give rise to
mould forming and potential health problems for occupants. It can also damage the building fabric
through decay. Avoiding the risk of condensation can be complex and a risk assessment would need
to be undertaken as part of the process.
Secondary glazing is a fully independent window system installed to the room side of existing
windows. The original windows remain in position in their original unaltered form. Secondary glazing
is available as openable, removable, or fixed units. Fixed forms of secondary glazing are designed to
be removed in warmer months when the thermal benefits are not required. If secondary glazing is to
be fitted, the outer windows are best left without draught-proofing so that there is a degree of
ventilation to the air space between the outer windows and the secondary glazing to prevent the
build-up of condensation.
Single glazing is a poor thermal insulator and readily conducts heat. A typical 4mm thick glass has a U-
value of 5.4W/ m²K. The thermal loss through a single glazed window will depend on the total area
of glass. A significant proportion of the thermal benefit of secondary glazing comes from decoupling
the frame from the primary frame and this can reduce the U-value to approximately 2.5W/ m²K. The
use of low emissivity glass for the secondary glazing can further improve the thermal performance to
less than 2.0/ m²K.
The nature of the church windows means that a bespoke system would need to be designed to
accommodate the variable shapes and sizes of the individual windows. Secondary windows need to
be located at a suitable position within the depth of the window reveal. A survey of the existing
windows will be required to identify any potential limitations, for example whether there is sufficient
depth in the reveal to locate the secondary glazing.
1
Historic England - Energy Efficiency and Historic Buildings 2016
Issue 1.0
Underfloor Heating
A single specialist heating company was approached to establish the viability of an underfloor heating
system at St Mary’s church. Due to the age and listed status of the site it is an extremely specialist
job and to date only one company has been assessed as possessing the appropriate skills and
experience.
The specialist contractor was connected to the church architect and discussions were held to
establish what would be possible on the site. It was agreed that the existing floor would need to be
removed, the heating system installed, and the floor replaced. It was also noted that there are areas
of specific archaeological interest (burial sites) and that the church architect specified that
investigation work would need to be undertaken prior to the start of any installation.
It was noted that if a heat pump was going to be used for the underfloor heating that the electric
supply would need to be converted to 3-phase.
The fact that no investigative work has been undertaken and that no trial pits will be created at this
stage of the project resulted in an indicative price, based on two recent projects that are similar in
nature, of £300 per m2. A specification for the installation was agreed with the church architect and
is shown below.
The estimated cost includes the following activities and installation:

• Dry levelling,
• 12mm cement board,
• 50mm Kingspan insulation,
• 30mm IDEAL EPS heating system,
• 18mm Screed,
• Replacement of tiles.
Based on an area for the underfloor heating of 253m2 the estimated cost for the underfloor heating
is £79,900 excluding excavation works. This area includes both aisles and the Nave but not the
Chancel which would be an additional 90 m2.
An additional £20 per m2 should be allowed for excavation and clearance, £5,060, making a total of
£84,960 as a budget guide price.
Before any installation could be scheduled, a range of test pits would be required to confirm the
status of the ground and the any risks that might be attached to the installation of underfloor heating.
This would include the permeability of the ground / insulation materials and the need for any specific
drainage plan. In any traditionally built church (mid-19th century or older) any underfloor heating
system must be permeable, e.g., using lime-based materials or keeping the vented floor void e.g. by
using a concrete block and beam floor to house the underfloor heating pipes.
The budget price is based on previous work undertaken by the potential contractor and is subject to
a full specification and design being undertaken.
Issue 1.0
Unlike radiators, which mostly just heat the air by heat convection, underfloor heating warms the
space with a mix of radiant heat and convection, helping create a more constant, comfortable
temperature throughout the space while reducing the likelihood of cold spots. The underfloor
heating warms the space from the ground up and offers improved comfort levels as well as less
demand on the boiler than a traditional radiator system. This is due to underfloor heating having a
lower operating temperature (around 40°C) than a radiator system, which normally operates at
around 65°C. An underfloor heating system would replace the current radiators within the church.
In most circumstances, underfloor heating works well with renewable technology such as heat
pumps, which have a low flow rate and operate at lower temperatures. Unfortunately, as has already
been mentioned in the report, the relatively high ceilings and poor insulation mean that a heat pump
system will be unable to maintain the room temperature using low level heat.
An underfloor heating system under a stone floor in this area would require the higher temperature
output provided by a conventional boiler which would also be easier to control to ensure that heat
at ground level can be provided when required. Underfloor heating is usually considered in churches
where there is a need for an uninterrupted expanse of flooring and a desire to reduce energy
consumption. With a low surface temperature of around 29°C, the primary advantage of an
underfloor heating system in a church is that heat is provided evenly across a broad area, enabling an
ambient temperature of around 18°C to be maintained up to two metres above the floor and
emanating from directly beneath the congregation.
A gas fired boiler to support an underfloor heating system of this size would need to be rated at 33
kW (253m2 x 130W/m). This is only slightly larger than the current boiler installed within the church
building.
A 50kW – 50 kW ErP A+ rated boiler with controls would cost between £3,500 and £4,000 to buy
and install. The improvement in the efficiency of a new boiler would reduce running costs by
approximately 25% resulting in a saving of 3,000 kWh
A case study of an underfloor heating installation at St Mary the Virgin, Willesborough, has been
included as an appendix and provides a good example of a church using a gas fired boiler and
underfloor heating.
Issue 1.0
Community Engagement
An anonymous survey was conducted amongst the local community. The aim of the survey was to
garner the interest of the community regarding the subject of sustainability and renewable energy.
The survey investigated two main areas, people’s homes, and the potential for a village sustainability
hub.
The survey set out to understand how people currently utilise energy in their homes and day to day
life, any plans they may have for becoming “greener” in the future, what sort of knowledge level
people had on the subject, and the general sentiment for a village sustainability hub.
The survey was distributed by the parish council amongst the local community via a website link. The
survey received 44 responses. Not every question was answered by all 44 people with the lowest
response level being 36 answers to questions 12 and 13. Overall the questionnaire provided a good
insight into people behaviour and intentions.
The overall sentiment for the sustainability hub was very positive with 95% of people being interested
in such a space. The community is keen to see more sustainable technologies implemented into the
local community to help cut down carbon emission levels and lower the price of bills, this correlates
with how concerned the community is with climate change and the rising cost of bills. The
community is very conscious of how and where it uses its energy inside the home and gives
considerable thought to saving energy around the home.
A selection of results from the survey are included below with the full results included as an
appendix to the report.
Issue 1.0
How important is the issue of climate change to you
personally? (1 being very little, 10 being very important )
25
20
15
10
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Over 44 responses the average response was 8.95. This shows a large portion of the community
personally believes climate change to be a very important issue to them. There is only 1 outlier in
this set of results who scored the issue a 5 where the rest of the surveyed group scored 7 plus.
What heating sources do you have in your home?
Gas boiler Gas boiler and a wood burning stove Gas fire and gas boiler Electric and gas
All the 44 people surveyed use a gas fired boiler to heat their home, 26 of those use a further
ancillary system to do additional heating. Only 7% of those surveyed have any means of electric
heating in their home. A wood burning stove is the most common additional system with 21 of the
surveyed group having one.
Issue 1.0
Do you currently use any renewable technologies within
your home and/or are you considering getting any
renewable technologies within your home within the
next 5 years?
No and not considering Yes, currently have solar installed No but interested
The most common answer here was no current renewable technologies and not planning on getting
any in the future, with 25 of the participants answering this way. Only 4 people currently have solar
panels installed but a further 11 are interested in some form of renewable technology in the next 5
years.
Would you utilise a public EV charging point?
Yes No
56% of those surveyed would utilise a public EV charging point, this is roughly in line with the
proportion of people that currently own or would buy an electric vehicle within the next 5 years.
44% would not utilise a public charging point.
Issue 1.0
Have you got any plans to reduce your energy costs, say
through more insulation, better heating efficiency etc?
Yes
No
Already doing what can be done
Yes, Improve insulation
Yes, Improve heating
Yes, use appliances on nightrate
29 of the 38 that answered this question have some plan to reduce their energy spend. 2 of the
group believe they are already doing everything they can and 7 have no plan at all.
Issue 1.0
Community Benefits
There appears to be an active community in the area with an interest in sustainability, as evidenced
by the responses to the questionnaire.
Sustainability Hub
The installation of sustainable technologies in either or both sites provide an opportunity for
individuals within the village and surrounding areas to see first-hand how the technology works and
have access to a place where information on the benefits of renewable technologies can also be
found.
The survey identified that 95% of the group who responded are interested in a renewable energy hub
where they can access information. based on the findings of this study, the Village Hall may be the
best place to host a permanent display or noticeboard and could also include a live display of the
energy that is being, and has been, generated by any renewable technology that may be installed in
the future.
Would a community renewable energy hub where you can

access information about how to be more sustainable be of
interest to you?
Yes No
Carbon Offsetting
The establishment of a village hub can provide a focal point for the generation of new ideas for the
community, such as, could the village have a tree planting plan and start to organise its own offsetting
on community land.
Issue 1.0
Electric Vehicles
The Community Engagement survey indicated a relatively positive response to the introduction of
electric vehicles and the provision of at least one charging point in the area would provide a benefit
to people traveling to or close to the location of the charger. It will also raise awareness of the
potential use of electric vehicles and encourage individuals to consider the use of an electric vehicle,
sooner than they may have done had they not seen a positive action within the community to install
at least one charging unit.
Demand for charging points will grow as electric cars become ‘normal’ and community charging
points would incentivise the community towards electrification. It may be possible to establish an
electric vehicle car share club within the local community making use of a centrally located charging
point from which the sharing can be managed. Car clubs allow individuals and communities to access
a personal vehicle without being tied to ownership. They are usually membership-based schemes
operated by community groups or private organisations where vehicles are available for short term
hire. Car club vehicles are often available for collection in public spaces rather than “conventional”
car hire hubs.
Issue 1.0
Financial Support
Several different potential funding options have been found that may provide support for the
implementation of the technologies discussed within the report. These encompass either the project
as a whole or individual aspects such as electric vehicle charging. The potential support, what it
covers, and value of financial aid is listed below.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme

The UK government has recently introduced the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). This is a funding
opportunity mainly targeted at domestic properties but includes small non-domestics as well. The
scheme covers installation capacities of up to 45kWth. Under this programme the government will
provide grants to encourage property owners to install low carbon heating systems, including heat
pumps. These grants are designed to help property owners overcome the upfront cost of low
carbon heating technologies.
Accredited installers will apply for the grant on behalf of the property and the value of the grant will
be discounted off the price you pay. The maximum funding available is outlined below.
• £5,000 off the cost and installation of an air source heat pump
• £5,000 off the cost and installation of a biomass boiler
• £6,000 off the cost and installation of a ground source heat pump
The grant will only cover biomass boilers in rural locations and in properties that are not connected
to the gas grid. The property needs to have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with no
outstanding recommendations to be eligible for this scheme. Further information can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-may-be-eligible-for-the-boiler-upgrade-scheme-
from-april-2022
FCC Community Action fund

The FCC Community Action Fund provides grants of between £2,000 and £100,000 to not-for-profit
organisations for amenity projects. The Orston Parish Council would be eligible for support due to
its proximity to the Staple Quarry Landfill Site. Further information can be found at:
https://fcccommunitiesfoundation.org.uk/funds/fcc-community-action-fund
Matthew Good Foundation

This foundation runs the ‘Grants for Good’ scheme. Every three months, they share £10,000
between 5 shortlisted projects that have a positive impact on communities, people, or the
environment. The local community group must have an income of less than £50,000 per annum.
Further information can be found at:
https://www.matthewgoodfoundation.org/grantsforgood/
Issue 1.0
The National Lottery Community Fund
This fund offers grants of up to £10,000. This fund supports local community projects that connect
and impact the local community. As both the Village Hall and St Marys church are local community
hubs, they should be eligible for this scheme. There are further higher value grant schemes run by
the National Lottery that this project may be eligible for. Further information can be found at:
https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes
Benefact Trust
St Mary’s church may be eligible for grant funding of between £1,000 and £15,000 under this scheme.
The Benefact Trust provides grants to churches and communities across the UK to address some of
the most difficult social issues of the day. The fund is set out for the repair, protection and
improvement of churches. Further information can be found at:
https://benefacttrust.co.uk/which-grant-is-for-me/general-grants/
National Churches Trust

The National Churches Trust could be relevant for the St Mary’s church element of the activities
included within the report, with grant funding available of between £3,000 and £10,000. This scheme
offers funding towards project development to support churches preparing for a major project.
The National Churches Trust also offers larger grants for structural repairs including bell towers.
Further information can be found at:
https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/get-support/grants/gateway
Workplace Charging Scheme

This is one of four government led schemes under the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).
This scheme covers business and public sector organisations with assistance available of £350 per
socket installed. The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a voucher-based scheme that provides
support towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle charge-points,
for eligible businesses, charities and public sector organisations. Further information can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/workplace-charging-scheme-guidance-for-applicants.
On-Street Residential Chargepoint scheme

The On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) provides grant funding for local authorities
towards the cost of installing on-street residential chargepoints for plug-in electric vehicles. This
scheme could be suitable for supporting the installation of a charge point in the public parking spaces
around St Mary’s church. This scheme covers up to 60% of the cost of installation. Further
information can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/grants-for-local-authorities-to-provide-residential-on-
street-chargepoints
Issue 1.0
Listed Places of Worship grant scheme
The Listed Places of Worship (LPW) Grant Scheme gives grants that cover the VAT incurred in
making repairs to listed buildings in use as places of worship. The scheme covers repairs to the fabric
of the building, along with associated professional fees, plus repairs to turret clocks, pews, bells and
pipe organs. The Scheme has a focus on preserving heritage in the fabric of UK listed places of
worship. The scheme only accepts applications where the minimum value of eligible work carried out
on any one claim to the scheme is £1,000 (excluding VAT). The Government has confirmed funding
is available for the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme until 31 March 2025. Further information
can be found at:
Listed Places of Worship - Home page (lpwscheme.org.uk)
Rural Funding Digest
The Rural Funding Digest provides information on a range of grants that are available and is updated
on a regular basis.
Rural Funding Digest - April 2022 - Rural Services Network (rsnonline.org.uk)
All these funding schemes are subject to eleigibilty checks and require the submission of application
forms to access the funding. All schemes are subject to change and may be changed at any time.
Issue 1.0
Planning & Permitting
Solar PV
In April 2008, solar panels were designated as ‘Permitted Development’, meaning that planning
permission is no longer necessary for systems below 50 kWp. The only exceptions to this are listed
buildings and conservation areas.
If you intend to install a PV system to a listed place of worship, you may need to get permission from
the relevant denominational advisory committee or listed building consent. If your denomination is
one of those covered by the Ecclesiastical Exemption, you will need consent from the advisory
committee. The Ecclesiastical Exemption does not remove the need for planning permission. If your
denomination is not exempt, you will need listed building consent and planning permission as set out
above.
In this case, it is understood that permission (a ‘Faculty’) would be required from the Southwell
Diocesan Advisory Committee and Grade 1 Listed Building consent from Historic England would
also be required along with local planning permission
Our website contains more information on listed places of worship and consents.
More information can be found in the publication: Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings published by
Historic England.
https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/eehb-solar-electric/heag173-eehb-solar-
electric-photovoltaics/
Aside from this, solar panels are subject to normal building regulations, which involves checking that
the roof can support the extra load – your MCS-certified installer will this check for you.
The Distribution Network Operator (DNO) must be notified about any potential installation of solar
PV. Planned solar pv systems with a Declared Net Capacity (the estimated output of the installation
after any losses through inverters and wiring etc) larger than 3.68kW must be approved by the DNO
through a G59 notification before any installation work begins. The DNO must give permission for
these larger systems to be installed.
The normal process is for the MCS contractor to notify the DNO and seek approval prior to the
start of any installation. An MCS approved contractor will also confirm that your solar setup meets
all the requirements before the installation commences.
Heat Pump
Air source heat pumps have now joined other technologies including biomass boilers and thermal
panels as Permitted Developments in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, providing
certain requirements are met.
Issue 1.0
If the planned heat pump installation complies with the following Permitted Developments criteria,
there is no requirement to apply for planning permission.
1. The heat pump is only used for heating (space heating and hot water).
2. The installation complies with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme Planning
Standards (MCS 020). It is the responsibility of the installer to ensure that your heat
pump installation is compliant with MCS standards.
3. Only the first air source heat pump falls under Permitted Development rights – adding a
second would require planning permission.
4. Similarly, an air source heat pump is a Permitted Development on the condition that
there is not a wind turbine on the property. If there is, there is a requirement to apply
for planning permission. This is not the case in this instance.
5. The heat pump must be sited in a way that minimises its effect on the appearance of the
building and the amenity of the area. This may involve siting the external unit at the back
of the property, out of view from the road, or if fixing it to a wall, it must be below the
first storey. This should not be an issue for the Village Hall given its location and
orientation to neighbouring properties.
6. The air source heat pump must be installed on flat surfaces.
7. If the building is listed building or scheduled monument, a listed building consent prior
to the installation is required.
8. If property is situated within a conservation area or World Heritage Site, there is a
requirement to check with local planning authority whether air source heat pumps are
deemed Permitted Developments.
9. Size of external compressor: in England, the outdoor unit and housing is not larger than
0.6m3, ok if installed internally with ducting to external.
10. Distance from boundary / nearest house: the air source heat pump must be at least 1
metre from the property’s boundary.
11. The external unit cannot protrude more than 1 metre from the outer wall, roof or
chimney of the building
EV Charging Points
Planning permission is not required for the installation of wall-mounted electric vehicle charging
points in areas lawfully used for off street parking, provided certain conditions are met.
The electrical outlet must not exceed 0.2 cubic metres in size, and it cannot face onto, or be within,
two metres of a highway. The point also cannot be within a site designated as a scheduled monument
or within a listed building.
The rules for installing an upstand with a mounted electrical charging are similar. Planning permission
is not required if the upstand outlet does not exceed 1.6 metres in height from the level of the
surface used for the parking of vehicles. Installation cannot result in more than one upstand being
provided for a single parking space.
Issue 1.0
Conclusions
The community organisations within the village of Orston that commissioned this feasibility study
have a number of good ideas for improving the sustainability of the community and the buildings that
serve that community. These ideas and several different options have been explored within this study
and are laid out in the report.
Both sites reviewed in this study currently have low levels of consumption and expenditure on
energy and therefore the potential for achieving significant financial and carbon savings within the
operation of these buildings does not exist. This is shown in the tables included within the Financial
Projections section of the report where the payback periods associated with the potential projects
are long and the carbon savings low. In the case of the potential to instal a heat pump system in the
Village Hall, the financial impact is negative, with an increase in the annual running costs although
there is a reduction in carbon emissions associated with switching from gas to electricity.
Village Hall
The potential for a ground source heat pump was reviewed and deemed to be less cost effective than
an air to water heat pump. Vertical bore holes would be required due to the lack of available land
around the Village Hall.
Air source heat pumps operate in the same way as ground source heat pumps and are commonly
used to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems or warm air convectors and hot water within a
building, air source heat pumps absorb heat from the outside air in the same way that a fridge
extracts heat from within. Air source heat pumps can extract heat from the air when outside
temperatures are as low as minus 15°C.
The installation of an underfloor heating system in the Village Hall was reviewed as an option for use
with a heat pump system but has been discounted for two reasons. The first being that the floor
floats 700mm above a concrete base and it would not be possible to effectively control the heat loss
underneath the floor. The second reason is that solid wood flooring cannot cope with the constant
changes in temperature from underfloor heating and is likely to become damaged and warped.
If a high temperature heat pump is utilised it would be possible to continue to use the current
radiators, but it is recommended that they are replaced with larger radiators, more fitting for use
with lower heat output heat pumps.
An air to water heat pump system is considered to be a viable option to replace the current gas
boiler, providing that the insulation in the building is improved to minimise the level of heat loss.
Solar pv is a good option for the Village Hall, especially if linked with a battery storage system that
could support the power required to operate the heat pump and to support an electric vehicle
charging point within the car park of the Village Hall.
Issue 1.0
Utilising renewable energy from a solar pv array to generate renewable heat energy with a heat
pump and then use energy that has been stored to power electric vehicles on site is a very powerful
sustainability story that could form the focus of a community sustainability hub at the Village Hall.
St Mary’s Church
St Mary’s Church presents a few challenges due to its age and listed status.
Solar pv provides a good standalone project for the building which can be used to provide lighting
and basic hot water systems for the facility and possibly provide power to an EV charger during the
summer months.
Any electric vehicle charging point would need to be a street side charging point as a wall mounted
or upstand with a mounted charging point would not be allowed on the church or within the church
as these are not allowed within a site designated as a scheduled monument or within a listed building.
Street side charging points can only be installed by local authorities and an agreement would need to
be made with the appropriate local authority for one to be made available.
Both ground source and air source heat pumps have been considered but are not believed to be
appropriate for the Church due to the low levels of insulation within the building and the lower
operating temperature of all heat pump technologies. A more practical approach would be to replace
the current boiler with a more efficient gas-powered boiler. This is clearly not a renewable energy
technology, but a new boiler would be more efficient than the current boiler which is now over 20
years old.
The cost of an underfloor heating system has been assessed at approximately £85,000 for the two
aisles and the Nave. A system of this size could be heated by a new boiler that is only slightly larger
than the one currently in place.
Community Engagement
The community engagement survey showed a positive response to the concepts of sustainability and
provides a good basis for believing that a sustainability hub and local initiatives to improve the
sustainability of the village and the community would be well received and supported.
Planning Restrictions
There are no planning restrictions that would prevent any of the potential projects identified within
the report from proceeding but attention would need to be given to ensure that all requirements for
the installation of solar panels and the installation of a new floor met all the requirement associated
with the Church’s listed building status.
Issue 1.0

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Feasibility Study – Community Renewable Energy

Orston Parish Council

Site Location of Potential Renewable Energy Generation Systems 2

Operation and Governance 2

Planning & Permitting 34

The feasibility study covered a range of technologies including:

The study also assessed:

The Village Hall is located at:

St Mary’s Church is located at:

Operation and Governance

The following items have also been considered:

kWh Cost Capital Payback tCO2e

Savings will be lower if

Replacement radiators 0 0 3700 n/a 0

Maximum saving based on

Running costs would be nil if

kWh Cost Capital Payback tCO2e

Replacement gas boiler 3000 150 3750 25.0 0.549

Underfloor heating 0 0 84960 n/a 0

Solar PV 9630 1234 16000 13.0 2.045

This would need to be done in

kWh Cost Capital Payback tCO2e

Underfloor heating 0 0 84960 n/a 0

The main hall has a concave ceiling which

The building has a gas-powered heating system and has two

The lighting in the main hall consists of 12 T8 fluorescent

Ground Source Heat Pumps

Benefits of GSHP systems

Ground source heat pumps offer a broad range of advantages:

• The heat from the ground is renewable and effectively infinite

Air Source Heat Pump

The representation to the left shows a roof

This system will produce approximately

Electric vehicle (EV) charging points

Ground Source Heat Pumps

Insulation – Secondary Glazing

The estimated cost includes the following activities and installation:

What heating sources do you have in your home?

Would you utilise a public EV charging point?

Would a community renewable energy hub where you can

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

FCC Community Action fund

Matthew Good Foundation

National Churches Trust

Workplace Charging Scheme

On-Street Residential Chargepoint scheme

Listed Places of Worship - Home page (lpwscheme.org.uk)

Rural Funding Digest

Rural Funding Digest - April 2022 - Rural Services Network (rsnonline.org.uk)

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