Heat pumps bring sustainable warmth to savannah species at Chester Zoo

Mitsubishi Electric air source heat pumps are now delivering low-carbon heating to the zebra, ostrich and roan antelope habitats at Chester Zoo’s ‘Heart of Africa’ zone, marking another milestone in the zoo’s drive toward decarbonisation.

As one of the UK’s most visited attractions outside London, and home to more than 30,000 animals, Chester Zoo has committed to achieving net zero across scope one and two emissions by 2030. To support this goal, it has been working in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric to decarbonise heating and cooling systems across its 130-acre estate.

The latest phase of the project saw the installation of two Mitsubishi Electric CAHV commercial heat pumps, providing 80kW of renewable heating to replicate the warm conditions of the African savannah. Radiant panels distribute heat across the habitats, allowing temperatures to be carefully controlled between 18°C and 24°C to suit each species.

Chris Newman, Net Zero Design Manager at Mitsubishi Electric, explains: “We can deliver different temperatures to different areas of the habitat, ensuring each species experiences the precise environmental conditions it needs. Our partnership with the zoo goes beyond retrofitting existing buildings — it’s also about ensuring all new developments are designed with sustainability at their core.”

Mitsubishi Electric has already supported the ‘Heart of Africa’ development by installing renewable heating and air conditioning in the site’s luxury guest lodges.

Robert Arathoon, M&E Project Manager, describes the scale of the initiative: “The Heart of Africa experience represents our largest development in more than a decade. Embedding sustainable design from the outset has been a priority, and heat pump technology is playing a key role in reducing our carbon footprint.”

Beyond this project, Mitsubishi Electric has supplied systems to several areas across the zoo, including The Square conference and events venue. Installations also include six Ecodan air source heat pumps for the endangered Eastern black rhino habitat, along with seven additional units serving the zoo’s purpose-built butterfly house.

Jennifer Kelly, Head of Sustainability at Chester Zoo, adds: “We recognise the responsibility we have — we can’t be part of the problem we’re trying to solve. Developing sustainable solutions is essential to reducing our emissions and achieving net zero.”