Greenpeace, an international environmental NGO, has reinforced its commitment to sustainability by installing a propane (R290)-based heat pump at its 1920s office building in North London.
The new 85kW (24.2TR) unit from Italian manufacturer Enerblue provides both space heating and hot water to the main office building, replacing its old gas boiler. The heat pump also provides hot water to the on-site warehouse.
This installation marks the U.K. debut of Enerblue’s Palladium range of R290-based heat pumps, designed for commercial and industrial applications. To celebrate, Enerblue and its U.K. distribution partner, Pure Thermal, hosted an event at the Greenpeace offices on September 3.
“We’re really proud of [this heat pump],” said Will McCallum, Greenpeace UK’s Co-Executive Director, during the event. “It’s really great for us to be in an old, not very efficient building and say that we have come off gas. This is us doing what we want other businesses to do.”
“It’s really great for us to be in an old, not very efficient building and say that we have come off gas. This is us doing what we want other businesses to do.”
Will McCallum, Co-Executive Director, Greenpeace UK
McCallum emphasized the importance of leading by example and “walking the talk” to encourage wide scale adoption.
“We need this government to actually invest in heat pumps for the future,” he said. “We’re calling for the government to invest £2.5 billion [$3.3 billion/€3 billion] per year up until 2028. We estimate that would allow 900,000 homes to be heated with heat pumps every single year between now and 2028.”
Not only will this move support decarbonization, but it will also bring employment and training opportunities and reduce air pollution, he noted.
“To Greenpeace, this is not just a heat pump: it’s a key part of its strategy, and it’s a message to the market,” added Garry Broadbent, Founder and Director of Pure Thermal.
Enerblue, which has been manufacturing propane heat pumps and chillers for over 10 years, first launched its Palladium range in 2023.
High performance in a historic building
The challenge of retrofitting a century-old building in a densely populated conservation area required a heat pump that could provide high temperatures with minimal noise, explained Andrew Hatton, Greenpeace UK’s Resource and Technology Director. Environmental sustainability was another key consideration.
Based on these needs, Pure Thermal recommended Enerblue’s 120.4 Palladium heat pump, which uses propane as a refrigerant and can deliver temperatures up to 70°C (158°F). The unit operates quietly, with sound levels between 70 and 74dBA, and optimizes energy use by producing only the temperature needed for the building’s heating load.
“With this setup, we’re not just heating our building; we’re heating it smartly and sustainably,” said Hatton.
Greenpeace also expanded its solar photovoltaic panels to offset the heat pump’s electricity consumption and installed two thermal storage tanks. Run-off water from the heat pump will irrigate the office gardens, further reducing the building’s environmental footprint.
Safety measures
To address the flammability of propane, the unit includes safety features such as leak detection, optimized airflow through fans, and an automatic shut-off system. A 1.5m (4ft 11in) exclusion zone around the unit provides an additional layer of safety. Each refrigeration circuit contains less than 5kg (11lb) of propane, minimizing the potential risk.
“This project is a great example of a hydrocarbon heat pump providing high performance and resilience in a residential area in central London,” said Broadbent.
The retrofit took approximately six months to complete and the heat pump was commissioned in August. It was partially funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery’s Earth Trust.
“This project is a great example of a hydrocarbon heat pump providing high performance and resilience in a residential area in central London.”
Garry Broadbent, Founder and Director, Pure Thermal
