Innovative new pitch heating solution for Chelsea F.C.

Chelsea Football Club selected Inditherm's under pitch heating system after a technical and financial evaluation of the system compared it against traditional gas/water pitch heating systems.

Chelsea have heated three full-size UEFA five star natural grass pitches at their new state-of-the-art Academy and Training facility in Surrey. The new facility was constructed during 2004 and brought into use by the first team in December of that year.

Chelsea selected the Inditherm system for several key reasons:

• Cost effectiveness.
• Elimination of a plant room.
• Versatility of operation.
• Low energy consumption.

Chelsea’s system covers a total grass area of 25,000m² and has a total power consumption of 814kW on maximum load. The system can be operated to heat all three pitches at the same time, each pitch individually, or up to eight zones per pitch.

The system is activated by air and ground sensors that enable the system when either of the set points has been reached. Full telemetry has been installed to provide the grounds staff with data on root zone temperature and moisture content.

System Configuration

The system uses Inditherm’s unique conductive polymer technology (CPT) laid in a matrix on the gravel drainage layer at a depth of 30cm. The pads are powered by underground pitch side transformer units that in turn are controlled by main control units located in the plant room. The system was installed at the time of pitch construction and completed within 6 weeks.

Base layer of gravel for drainage


Installation of heater pads

Pads are laid in groups of 4 and wired into IP65 rated junction boxes. Cables are then run back to the transformer units.

Pad alignment & spacing


Controls panels - one for each pitch

Significant Power Savings

The alternative water system would have required 4,200kW of boiler capacity, 200kW of pump capacity and 90km of polyethylene pipe work. An additional benefit was that the gas supply to the site did not need to be upgraded to cope with the demands of the boiler system. Chelsea also recovered the space set aside in the club house for the boiler room that will now be used for other purposes.

The energy efficiency of the Inditherm system was a major factor in its selection. A comparison of running costs shows that Chelsea save approximately £3,000 (€4,200) per day of operation. Maintenance of the Inditherm system is minimal, as there are no moving parts or pressure vessels to maintain, providing a further reduction in operating costs.

Similar capital and installation costs means that the energy and operating costs of the system are direct pay back for the installation. If the full system was in use every day, the savings would pay for the system in less than 10 months of one year.

Finished installation

Since installation the system has been used through the winter providing a usable grass playing surface in all weather conditions, including snow and frost.