New solar thermal panels at HMS Raleigh HMS Raleigh, the Royal Navy's premier training establishment in Cornwall, is cutting its carbon footprint by using renewable energy to heat its swimming pool.

Specified by Wessex Design Ltd, Kier’s specialist energy solutions team supplied Vaillant solar thermal panels, Secon Solar controllers and Bowman heat exchangers for the 33m pool.

HMS Raleigh is the Royal Navy's largest training establishment in the south west where all new Rating recruits to the Service undergo their nine week basic training course. The establishment also conducts specialist training delivering seamanship, submarine operations, logistics, military and board and search skills.


The heating for the pool at HMS Raleigh was previously taken off the main boiler on site so the decision was made to use renewable energy. Outside on ground level behind the pool, Kier installed 69 Vaillant VFK145 flat plate solar panels - some of the most advanced solar thermal heating systems available - which provide maximum efficiency, high performance and total reliability.

Two Bowman 4875/5 tube and shell heat exchangers were used to ensure maximum heat transfer between the solar panels and the swimming pool, along with an ES controller and a BX controller from Secon Solar to control the temperature.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change has helped to fund over 30 energy-saving projects for the MOD after it was awarded £8.5m in 2008. As well as HMS Raleigh, an improved heating system at Buckley Barracks in Wiltshire has been installed, delivering further cuts in carbon emissions.

Kier’s specialist energy solutions team, formally known as Beco Solar, was one of the first organisations to become a government-approved installer of photovoltaic cells. Kier is helping households, communities and businesses to reduce emissions, to become more self-sufficient in relation to their energy requirements and to limit the impact of rising electricity costs.

(CD/GK)