Samsung Climate Solutions donates cutting edge equipment to Colchester Institute’s new Net Zero and Renewables Training Centre

Samsung Climate Solutions has donated cutting edge technology to further and higher education provider, Colchester Institute, as it launches a new £250k Net Zero and Renewables Training Centre.

The converted 220m² ground floor space that was formerly an exam hall, will house several emerging technologies that installers and engineers will be able to learn how to install, including air and ground source heat pumps, solar PV, solar thermal, hybrid systems, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging points.

Heating company Gasway Services, former students of Colchester Institute themselves, collaborated on the design, helped specify the workshop and installed the technologies. Equipment from Samsung Climate Solutions included the recently launched EHS Mono R290 Heat Pump with Integrated Pump which is equipped with Propane (R290), a natural refrigerant with a lower global warming potential (GWP)[1].

Samsung Climate Solutions’ new all-in-one integrated EHS ClimateHub and the compact EHS Hydro Unit, solutions for heating and domestic hot water for residential homes, have also been donated for use at the college alongside Samsung’s SmartThings. The SmartThings App is used to monitor and manage energy usage in real time in the palm of the user’s hand.

As well as spaces for practical, hands-on learning to take place, there is also a classroom with TVs and tablets for theoretical knowledge.

The training centre was developed following employer demand for more training in renewable technology and in support of the Essex Green Skills Infrastructure Strategy, launched by Essex County Council to ensure residents have the necessary skills to support the county as it transitions to net zero.

Scott Young, national training manager at Samsung Climate Solutions, said: “When Colchester Institute reached out to us, we couldn’t help but be a part of the project. Upskilling the industry is critical to both inspiring the next generation of installers and helping those already in the industry learn how to effectively install new technologies, such as heat pumps, which are becoming more common place.

“Installers recognise this and demand for such skills is increasing. We’ve seen this at our own training centre in Chertsey where we had a 340% increase in installers being trained from 2022 to 2023. So it is vital to ensure that there are as many opportunities as possible for people to gain skills in these technologies and feel confident both to install them and advise customers accordingly.”

The opening of the training facility comes as Samsung Climate Solutions announces the launch of its own state-of-the-art training centre in Manchester. Installers will gain hands-on experience and theoretical knowledge essential for installing and maintaining the manufacturer’s innovative heat pump, air conditioning and smart control technologies.

Gary Horne, deputy chief executive at the Colchester Institute, said: “Colchester remains one of the fastest growing cities in the UK, with high demand and ambitious plans for new homes, and for retrofit within existing buildings. To meet this demand, our people need to have access to high quality training and education.

“The launch of this facility marks a significant milestone in the College’s net-zero ambitions and our commitment to the Essex Green Skills Infrastructure Plan. The development of this centre has been a real collaboration and we are grateful to have the support of multiple organisations across the industry, including Samsung whose technology will greatly help us in training thousands of students and delegates over the years to come.”

To learn more about Samsung Climate Solutions training offering, visit: https://samsung-climatesolutions.com/gb/b2b/professionals/training.html

[1] GWP by refrigerant: R290 = 3, R32 = 675, R410A = 2088

Samsung Climate Solutions are Industrial Associates of CIPHE, to see the full list of Industrial Associates check out the directory HERE