AW290 Air Source Heat Pumps for Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Operations Centre

Project Overview

Modutherm supplied the heat pump and hot water solution for the Operations Centre of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team in Brackley, Northamptonshire. The installation was completed by Caddick Construction.

The Facility

The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Operations Centre in Brackley is one of the most advanced motorsport facilities in the world. Home to over 950 employees working around the clock, the site is where Mercedes-AMG F1 cars are designed, engineered, and constructed. The campus covers a total area of 126,000m² and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the Formula One season.

Sustainability is central to the facility's operations. The Brackley site:

• Holds ISO 14001 international environmental management certification
• Runs entirely on 100% renewable energy sources
• Has achieved Three Star Certification—the highest level in the FIA's Environmental Accreditation programme
• Targets a 20% reduction in carbon footprint year on year
• Offsets unavoidable CO₂ emissions through gold-standard carbon offsetting

The team is currently undertaking a £70 million transformation of the campus into a sustainable parkland campus, with sustainability, health, and wellbeing at the heart of the development.

The Challenge

A facility operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week demands heating and hot water systems that match its exacting standards for reliability, efficiency, and environmental performance. With ISO 14001 certification and the FIA's Three Star Environmental Accreditation to maintain, any new plant installation needed to demonstrably support the site's net zero ambitions whilst delivering consistent performance for a large, continuously occupied workforce.

The Solution

• Three AW290 50kW air source heat pumps in cascade configuration
• 150kW total heating capacity
• 1500L heat pump buffer vessel
• 1000L Juniper PW storage vessel for domestic hot water
• Natural R290 refrigerant with GWP of 3
• COP up to 4.4 at standard rating conditions
• A+++ energy efficiency rating
• EVI scroll technology for reliable performance at low ambient temperatures
• BMS-ready controls for integration with the site's building management systems

Key Benefits

• Environmental Credentials: Natural R290 refrigerant with a GWP of just 3 supports the site's ISO 14001 certification and FIA Environmental Accreditation
• Efficiency: COP up to 4.4 delivers substantial energy cost savings whilst reducing carbon output in line with the team's year-on-year reduction targets
• Reliability: Cascade configuration provides built-in redundancy essential for a facility operating around the clock
• Thermal Storage: The 1500L buffer vessel optimises heat pump efficiency by decoupling generation from demand, whilst the 1000L Juniper PW storage vessel ensures reliable domestic hot water supply for a large workforce
• Performance: EVI scroll technology maintains consistent output regardless of ambient temperature conditions
• Integration: BMS-ready controls enable centralised monitoring and optimisation alongside the facility's existing building management infrastructure

Results

The commissioned AW290 installation delivers reliable, low-carbon heating and hot water for one of Formula One's most demanding operational environments. The system's natural refrigerant, high efficiency, and low direct emissions align directly with the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team's environmental accreditations and net zero ambitions—demonstrating that the performance standards required at the highest level of motorsport and the sustainability standards required for responsible operations are not mutually exclusive.