What are the advantages of using Shared Ground Loop Arrays for district heating?
Affordable heating bills
Ground source heat pumps produce 3 to 4kWh of heat energy for every 1kWh of electrical energy used, making them 300-400% efficient. A typical boiler is 90% efficient.
There is even a chance to increase this performance at a district level by utilising waste heat from applications such as server rooms and supermarkets – the options are endless.
Minimal maintenance
With a design life of 20 years, ground source heat pumps don’t require annual servicing or maintenance. Meanwhile, the infrastructure can last 100 years.
Independent heating
As a unit is installed into each property, end users are in complete control of their own heating and energy bills. They can easily switch between energy tariffs, and only have to pay for their own heat consumption.
Single appliance
Shared Ground Loop Arrays do not require any additional heat source or appliance other than the ground source heat pump; the unit provides 100% of the properties’ heating needs all year round.
Year-round supply
The ground temperature remains a stable and reliable 8-10°C all year round. Compare this reliability to air source heat pumps, which are impacted by external fluctuating air temperatures, creating higher bills when you need heat the most.
No combustion
Avoiding any need for flammable gases, Shared Ground Loop Array networks provide a safe and worry-free heating alternative to traditional district heating schemes. Conforming to fire safety and building regulations, a ground source heat pump delivers heating and hot water with peace of mind to flats, tower blocks and high-rise buildings.
Improved air quality
Ground source heat pumps with Shared Ground Loop Arrays help to reduce air pollution. Unlike fossil fuel systems, this system does not release point-of-use emissions of any pollution, such as CO2 emissions, particulates, NOx or SOx.
Lower emissions
Because a ground source heat pump extracts so much free energy from the environment, CO2 emissions are lower than any other type of heating system.
Free cooling & no overheating
With heat being generated at each dwelling’s point of use, the heat circulating the property is low temperature, so there is no heat loss contributing to overheating in risers and corridors.
The use of ground arrays with ambient loops offers an unparalleled opportunity for schemes to utilise waste heat, as well as provide free passive cooling for a comfortable living environment all year round. All of the waste heat produced by cooling goes back into the ambient temperature loop, and all of the cold that’s produced as a by-product of heating also goes into the loop. That allows you to recycle the energy, rather than waste it out to the atmosphere.
Smart cities
Ground source heat pumps with Shared Ground Loop Arrays offer unique benefits when incorporated with smart energy grids to balance demand, costs and carbon.