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A 2,700 m² industrial building, heated using ground-source heat pumps, with a seasonal performance factor (SPF) of up to 5.4. This is how Marine Instruments’ headquarters in Nigrán (Pontevedra) has been operating since 2012, and it stands as one of the leading examples of geothermal energy applied to the industrial sector in Galicia.
From its headquarters in the Porto do Molle industrial estate in Nigrán (Pontevedra), Marine Instruments develops and manufactures advanced technological solutions for the sustainable fishing, aquaculture, security and defence sectors. Its work combines electronics, communications, artificial intelligence and unmanned systems to address challenges such as optimising fishing operations, precision feeding in aquaculture, and maritime surveillance and observation. Its developments include satellite-linked buoys with echo sounders, smart feeding systems for shrimp farming and unmanned aerial platforms, with a focus on improving the efficiency, decision-making and sustainability of operations.
The workforce, comprising around 180 people, carries out its work in temperature-controlled premises fitted with Ecoforest heat pumps, which have been progressively upgraded to keep pace with the company’s growth and its changing production requirements.
Temperature control to within ±1 °C using a geothermal heat pump
Marine Instruments’ manufacturing process is characterised by the complexity and range and complexity of processes involved, such as the curing of parts, and by its strict quality standards. Every component and product is tested under conditions of salinity, solar radiation or electrical load to prevent failure once the equipment is deployed in the field.
Some of these processes require the temperature to be maintained within a temperature tolerance of ±1 °C, which calls for a stable, precise and monitored climate control system that supports the production cycle and prevents downtime.
Technical rooms and ground-source collector system with seven 125-metre vertical boreholes
The Marine Instruments facility combines office space, storage areas, assembly lines and various areas for the development and testing of electronic and mechanical components. The first building, constructed in 2012, has two technical rooms:
- One technical room housing an ecoGEO+ HP 15-70 geothermal heat pump
- And a second technical room, on an upper floor, with an ecoGEO+ B4 3-12 heat pump using air-source collection.
The expansion of the facilities led to the construction of a second building, which also houses an ecoGEO+ HP 15-70. The heat pumps provide simultaneous heating, cooling and domestic hot water.
Both geothermal heat pumps are connected to a shared collection system comprising seven vertical boreholes, each 125 metres deep.
SPF of 5.4: efficiency and savings in heating and cooling
The high-power system in the first installation has an SPF of 5.4, with some months seeing monthly SPF values of up to 7.4, such as in July 2025. The high-power heat pump in the second building averages 4.9, with peaks of 6.1.
Heating and cooling are distributed via underfloor heating and fan coils across a heated area of approximately 2,700 m², including storage areas, which allows for operation at low supply temperatures and improves the system’s overall efficiency.
The system is complemented by photovoltaic panels, solar thermal panels, four buffer tanks (two 2,000-litre and two 500-litre tanks complete the installation), thermostats and automatic control units for continuous monitoring.
A pioneering installation recognised by ACLUXEGA
In 2012, at the same time as Marine Instruments was opening its new headquarters in Nigrán, Ecoforest was taking its first steps in the manufacture of heat pumps. The decision to invest in what was then an innovative technology has enabled the company to maintain an efficient, reliable air-conditioning system for over 14 years, one that has adapted to the company’s growth.
For this reason, the Galician Geothermal Cluster (ACLUXEGA) selected this facility as an example of the application of geothermal energy in a business premises.
The combination of geothermal, aerothermal and solar energy, together with passive efficiency strategies, has provided Marine Instruments with a solution offering low operating costs, high thermal stability and scalability, supporting the development of a Galician technology company with an international reach.
