In this unique installation, a Kensa 6kW Shoebox is drawing heat from the water in the docks to warm the hold of the ‘Sabrina 5’ barge, which forms part of the National Historic Fleet and is an interactive exhibit at the Gloucester Waterways Museum.
Tell us a bit about yourself…
Tell us a bit about yourself…My name is Robert Harvey and I’m the founder of Limitless Energy. We are a family business and accredited heat pump installer. We design and install both traditional heating and renewable energy systems in Wales and beyond.
Tell us about the job…
The customer approached us, as we had previously installed an air source heat pump for his son. He already had Solar PV and so was receptive to the idea of renewable heating technologies.
He wanted to replace the old, inefficient night storage heaters in his property to reduce his outgoings and make the family home more environmentally friendly.
What was your solution?
We advised him that a ground source heat pump would make a reliable and efficient alternative. There is a field adjacent to the property, which was perfect for a slinky ground array.
The property has a wood-burning stove providing adequate hot water, so the customer was looking for a space heating solution only. We suggested a 13kW Kensa Evo ground source heat pump system.
Why did you choose to use Kensa’s products?
Limitless Energy had performed maintenance on some of Kensa’s Shoebox heat pumps at a job elsewhere, and they seemed robust and effective pieces of kit. We also knew that Kensa is the industry’s top ground source heat pump manufacturer, so it made sense to approach them.
We were impressed with the level of support we received. Kensa handled the sizing and design of the ground source heat pump system, and it was great to be able to download helpful factsheets and manuals direct from their website.
What is your feedback on the new Kensa Evo ground source heat pump?
This was the first Kensa Evo unit we had installed, and the fact that it needs very little maintenance is a bonus. We would definitely recommend it to other renewable installers.
We also liked the new interactive system controller – it was great to be able to see the performance running figure as a percentage on the screen and this helped with the commissioning of the system.
Were there any challenges with this installation?
The installation went smoothly. We had a team of people who completed the groundworks and installation of the heat pump and new wet radiator system within 10 days. We did have a bit of a learning curve when the location of the heat pump was changed halfway through the installation, and we had to make some modifications to the pipework from the manifold to the heat pump!
What are the benefits to the customer?
The renewable heating system installed by Limitless Energy provides 100% of the customer’s heating demand whenever they need it. As well as substantially lowering their running costs, it will also earn them approximately £25,200 income from the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI: this scheme has now closed – please visit this page to explore other funding).
The Kensa Evo ground source heat pump has been in for almost a year and it has run perfectly through one of the coldest winters’ we’ve had in years, so the customer is very happy!
[post_gallery]
Ground Source Review: Sabrina 5.
In this unique installation, a Kensa 6kW Shoebox is drawing heat from the water in the docks to warm the hold of the ‘Sabrina 5’ barge, which forms part of the National Historic Fleet and is an interactive exhibit at the Gloucester Waterways Museum.
Kensa showed its support for the local community and World Environment Day (5th June 2018) by sponsoring and litter picking its way across a Cornish beach’s golden sands as part of a community clean-up initiative to improve Cornwall’s beaches for people to enjoy.
World Environment Day encourages worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. The theme for 2018 is beating plastic pollution, so the clean-up at Par beach in St Austell, helped raise awareness of the importance of looking after Cornwall’s beautiful beaches, wildlife and sea and encouraged people to take their rubbish home with them.
Kensa Heat Pumps said:
As a Cornish manufacturer Kensa Heat Pumps is thrilled to support this local cause, which echoes our ethos to make a real difference to the community and protect our environment.
The event was organised by Safer Cornwall St Austell, a collective of public, private and voluntary sector organisations who have joined together with the aim to make Cornwall’s communities safer and cleaner by tackling anti-social behaviour, rough sleeping, drug and alcohol abuse, as well as improving the environment. Local agencies joining Kensa, Safer St Austell and local volunteers in the beach clean included Cosgarne Hall, Addaction, Community Safety from Cornwall Council and the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service.
Helen Catherall from Addaction and Safer St Austell said:
Our beach clean to coincide with World Environment Day is just one many positive activities of Safer St Austell. In the past year Safer St Austell has made environmental improvements to St Austell as well as working to resolve local concerns about anti-social behaviour in the town.
The Mayor of St Austell, Councillor Gary King, along with the Deputy Mayor Councillor Tim Styles added:
This was a terrific effort from all involved, we look forward to working with you again in the future.
Ground Source Review: Stakeford Depot & Riverside Centre.
Northumberland County Council enlisted the help of their number one ground source heat pump framework contractor, Kensa Contracting, to transform two energy inefficient council buildings following the successful retrofit of three fire stations with Kensa ground source heat pumps.
An innovative new heating system which will significantly reduce residents’ heating costs has been installed at a development of 49 one- and two-bedroom bungalows in Burton Gardens, Weobley. Read more
Renewable Energy Engineering Facility (REEF) opens in Cornwall
A pioneering new renewable energy research centre on the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall has embraced British manufactured renewable technology to provide a teaching facility for the design, build, test and display of projects and opportunities relating to renewable energy engineering.
The £1.77m Renewable Energy Engineering Facility (REEF) provides dedicated workshop and laboratory space for student research projects as well as a means for businesses to identify challenge areas and opportunities for renewable technologies and collaborations with experts in renewable energy.
Practicing what it preaches, the REEF facility’s construction was ground-breaking in its own approach to sustainability. With space heating supported by a Kensa Evo ground source heat pump, manufactured by Kensa Heat Pumps just seven miles from REEF, the Evo installation reduces the carbon footprint of the building’s construction as well as its ongoing energy use, and will also have a dual purpose enabling students to conduct monitoring and interrogation of the system.
To further deliver on the buildings ultra-low carbon footprint ambitions, the facility obtained a BREEAM Excellent rating on completion, which puts it in the top 10% of all new buildings, and in the ‘Best Practice’ category as set by the Building Research Establishment.
Richard Cochrane, Director of Education for Renewable Energy says:
The REEF will be a fantastic addition to the teaching facilities that support our Renewable Energy programmes. As well as providing a well-equipped modern workshop to enable students to design, make and test their engineering knowledge, the building itself is an exciting teaching aid providing data on real operational renewable energy technologies that the students can study and run experiments on.
The workshop is equipped with traditional mechanical engineering tools and the latest 3D printing, CNC machining, electronic and electrical equipment. As well as experiments on the solar panels and heat pump that run the building, students will be involved with an energy storage demonstrator.
There are also plans for solar thermal, anaerobic digestion and energy efficiency studies on or around the building.
Dr Matthew Trewhella of Kensa Heat Pumps comments:
Kensa Heat Pumps will be working with the University to help students understand the data that can be provided by the heat pump and assist the setting up of student projects. In return, students will be able to simulate various different demand patterns and analyse the ground source heat pump’s thermodynamic performance in various real-world scenarios.
[post_gallery]
Ground Source Review: Rhandir Llangadfan.
Geraint and Mererid Roberts had a 13kW Kensa Evo ground source heat pump installed as part of a two-year project to convert a 300 year old barn on the site of Rhandir Farm.
In this blog, first published in Installer magazine (February 2018), Guy Cashmore, Technical Director at Kensa Heat Pumps, explores the future of energy self-sufficiency, focusing on the current market for ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) and complimentary technological advancements to help deliver energy self sufficient homes. Read more
Ground Source Review: Cock Robin Farm.
In this ground source heat pump case study, Bob Pybus chose a Kensa 9kW Evo to provide heating and hot water to the five bedroom family home he was building on the site of a former farm in the scenic Cotswold countryside.
Ground Array (Installation Manual)
Installation Manual
Version 11.0 | Updated: 25/01/24
We have launched a programme of free monthly training days, delivered in a specially created ground source heat pump training facility in Exeter College.