Meet Mr. Edge: A Dairy Industry Leader
Milk Source Heat Pump delivering Milk Cooling + Water heating + Savings + reduced bactoscan
Mr Edge standing next to his Milk Source Heat Pump
From Skeptic to Advocate: How Milk Source Heat Pump Transformed a Leading Dairy Farm
Mr. Edge operates a high-performing dairy in North Wales as part of Calon Wen, a respected co-op of 23 organic dairy farmers supplying premium milk to local businesses. As a board member, he plays a pivotal role in setting quality standards for the group.
When we first met him at Dairy-Tech 2024, he had already maximized efficiency with:
Heat recovery from ice bank compressors
A DX tank system
A Cotswold heater operated through a timer and thermostat to prevent overrunning.
A dedicated water heater for calf feeding set at 40°C
His farm produces 5,000–5,500 litres daily on average annually (peaking at 6,500 litres).
The Turning Point
Despite our 2024 proposal, Mr. Edge waited 8–9 months to reconsider. It wasn’t until a critical refrigerant gas leak in his ice bank caused it to stop working—threatening milk quality—that he seriously evaluated our system.
Before committing, he conducted thorough due diligence:
Peer Validation: He consulted Mr. Barber (Director of Barber’s Cheese) to vet our technology and understand its performance on his two farms.
Financial Rigor: He required a 2–3 year payback period to justify the investment.
After months of deliberation, he approved the installation in March 2025.
The Proof: Transparent, Measurable Results
To eliminate guesswork, we:
Installed an energy meter on 4 March 2025 for baseline data.
Tracked performance for 30 days pre-installation and 21 days post-installation.
March 2025 (Pre-Installation)
Mr Edge bills for the whole dairy farm before Milk Source Heat Pump
10,300 kwh for the 30 days before Milk Source Heat Pump was commissioned
What was working at the time for milk cooling and water heating
DX tank with new milk compressors
5,500-5,800 liters of milk being produced a day
2 x hot washes through cotswold heaters; operated through timer and thermostat.
Energy Use: 343 kWh/day
Production: 5,500–5,800 litres/day
Bactoscans: 22–24 (meeting Calon Wen’s strict ≤25 threshold)
May 2025 (Post-Installation)
With milk source heat pump working at the dairy
1537 kwh for 7 days
= 219.5 kwh per day (reduced from 343 kwh in march)
1st week of May; with warmer temperatures; rising as high as 28 degrees. Yet the machine not only cope but showed significant savings.
Higher milk yield (approx. 500 liters higher than in march). This is the peak period of milk production for Mr Edge and this is set to last approx. 2-3 months before dropping gradually to approx. 4000 liters per day.
Approx. 6200-6300 liters of milk a day
2 x hot washes + Calf feeding
Energy Use: 220 kWh/day (36% reduction)
123 kwh net gain every day
Production: 6,200–6,300 litres/day (+12% output)
Bactoscans: 15 (a 40% improvement in milk quality)
Financial Impact:
Daily Savings: £30.14 (123 kWh/day at 24.5p/kWh)
Annual Savings: £11,000
Payback: Under 3 years (meeting Mr. Edge’s target)
Beyond Energy: Unexpected Benefits
Milk Quality Leap:
Bactoscans dropped from 24 to 15 within a week—critical for Calon Wen’s premium standards.
Savings Despite Warmer Temperatures & Higher Production:
Achieved 120 kWh/day savings despite:
Higher milk output (~500 litres more per day than March).
Warmer April temperatures (which typically increase cooling demands).
System Versatility:
Powers 2x hot washes, year-round calf feeding (replacing an £8,000 heater), and instant milk cooling to 3°C.
Milk compressors now rarely run, slashing maintenance costs.
Why This Matters for Your Farm
Mr. Edge’s story proves that even so-called ‘efficient dairies’ still have room for improvement. The Milk Source Heat Pump is a game-changer, delivering:
✅ Lower energy costs without disrupting operations.
✅ Superior milk quality (helping you earn maximum value for your milk).
✅ Fast payback—with added production upside.
