A non-league soccer club in Gloucestershire, U.K., has replaced its commercial gas-fired boiler with a high-temperature air-source propane (R290) heat pump for domestic hot water production, according to a statement from Rinnai, the heat pump’s manufacturer.
The club selected an R290 heat pump over alternative technologies to reduce its carbon footprint and increase its energy efficiency, Rinnai told NaturalRefrigerants.com. While the use of an environmentally friendly refrigerant like R290 was a key factor in the decision-making process, the primary driver was the system’s ability to supply high-temperature water efficiently. The club continues to use a gas-fired boiler and plug-in electric heaters for space heating, the manufacturer added.
Rinnai introduced its line of commercial R290 heat pumps in early 2024 to “expand its lineup of decarbonizing appliances.” The 11 different air-source units in its lineup cover heating capacities of 6–50kW (1.7–14.2TR). The manufacturer did not respond to a question about the heating capacity of the club’s heat pump or the identity of the club.
Forest Green Rovers, based in Gloucestershire, is widely known for its focus on sustainability, having been named as the “world’s greenest” soccer club by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) in 2017 and the first carbon-neutral soccer team by the United Nations in 2018. Between the 2018/19 and 2022/23 seasons, Forest Green Rovers cut CO2 emissions by 21.8%. The club is fully powered by “clean energy” sources, including onsite solar panels, wind power and natural gas. The club is currently building a new stadium, but the completion date is yet to be announced.
“We are seeing a huge increase in demand [for R290 heat pumps] from our customers, with 2024 being a record year for heat pump sales,” said a representative of Rinnai. “We expect 2025 to continue that trend.”
Cutting emissions
Rinnai’s internal modeling suggests that switching to an R290 heat pump, compared to one of its natural gas boilers, will lead to an 81% reduction in carbon emissions over the first five years of operation.
However, due to the higher cost of electricity in the U.K. compared to natural gas – £0.23 (€0.28/$0.29) per kWh versus £0.064 (€0.077/$0.08) in 2024, with projections of £0.128 (€0.154/$0.16) versus £0.032 (€0.039/$0.04) by 2029 – the heat pump is expected to be approximately 23% more expensive to operate than a gas boiler in the short term.
“A number of operational advantages are made possible by R290, including a 10% increase in energy efficiency, the ability to [produce] water at temperatures up to 75°C [167°F] and compliance with the European F-Gas Regulation,” the manufacturer says on its website.
R290 is “gaining momentum” in the market due to these properties, it added in a recent post in which it compares propane to CO2 (R744) in heat pumps.
“We are seeing a huge increase in demand [for R290 heat pumps] from our customers, with 2024 being a record year for heat pump sales. We expect 2025 to continue that trend.”
- Rinnai UK
Rinnai believes that government initiatives, such as subsidies and other financial incentives, would further increase the adoption of propane-based solutions.
Over the last few years, several other manufacturers have introduced new ranges of propane heat pumps for commercial applications, including Clade, Ideal Heating, Clivet and Viessmann.
Sustainability in English soccer
English soccer’s governing body, the Football Association (FA), launched a five-year sustainability strategy in 2023, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2024 across its operations. A major focus of this plan is reducing electricity and gas consumption by 2028 while encouraging clubs and leagues to implement greener practices.
The English Football League (EFL), which covers the Championship, League 1 and League 2, established the EFL Green Clubs scheme in 2021 to support clubs’ efforts to improve their environmental practices and operations. To date, three clubs – Bristol City, Forest Green Rovers and Sutton United – have achieved GreenCode Accredited status.
