This animation showcases how the ground beneath our feet can transform how we heat and power our homes and businesses, and provide a ‘ready-to-go’ solution for reducing emissions and tackling the climate crisis.
Discover how an integrated approach using readily available and highly efficient clean energy technology can deliver community-wide sustainable heating and cooling. Networked ground source heat pumps are proven to be the lowest cost low carbon alternative to mains gas.
Croydon Council was the first in the borough to make the switch to lower carbon heating after the local climate emergency was announced. Working with Kensa, they have cut carbon and costs thanks to the use of ground source heat pumps.
As part of a pilot project, electric storage heaters were replaced with low-carbon ground source heat pumps in 44 flats within a tower block. As a result of the successful scheme, Croydon Council has committed to switching to ground source heat pumps in a further 86 flats across two tower blocks, which were using gas boilers.
The ground source heat pumps will reduce residents’ heating bills and help towards the borough’s goal of cutting carbon emissions by 34% by 2025. Watch the video to take a behind-the-scenes look at the project and all the long-term benefits of ground source heating for local councils and communities.
As the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) opens to applications, Kensa is urging local authorities and housing associations in England to act now and bid for a portion of the £160m available in 2021/22 to install highly efficient, low-carbon ground source heat pumps to tackle climate change and protect their tenants from fuel poverty.
Ieman Barmarki, Director of Low Carbon Partnerships at Kensa Contracting, says:
We are very pleased to see ground source heat pumps included as a measure in this funding scheme which will help local authorities replace fossil fuel heating systems and deliver warm, energy-efficient homes whilst reducing carbon emissions and fuel bills.
“It is critical that some of the most vulnerable in society can benefit from low cost and low carbon heating systems. There are currently 2.5m households across the UK in fuel poverty who are unable to afford adequate heating. This fund can make a significant impact on fuel poverty if ground source heat pumps are installed as part of the solution to place residents on a net zero pathway.
There is an 8-week application window for the first wave of SHDF funding bids, beginning on 23rd August and ending on 15th October. To help capitalise on this opportunity, Kensa Contracting, delivery partner to Kensa Heat Pumps, will be delivering free CPD sessions showcasing the benefits of ground source heat pumps in social housing with large-scale retrofit case studies and demonstrating how the technology is eligible under the scheme. Local authorities are invited to register their interest here.
Kensa can also support local authorities in making a bid by delivering desktop feasibility studies of building stock to help identify ‘retrofit-ready’ projects, and providing estimates for the investment budgets and potential grant amounts needed for installing ground source heating systems.
The UK government has committed to reducing emissions to net-zero by 2050, and over 10 years, the SHDF fund will potentially provide up to £3.8 billion in subsequent funding waves to encourage local authorities in England to retrofit measures such as low-carbon heating and insulation to increase energy efficiency and decarbonise their housing stock.
The primary objective of the SHDF scheme is to upgrade a significant amount of England’s 4.1m social homes to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2030. Currently, nearly 40% of properties fall below this, with fuel poverty posing a serious risk for residents when high fuel bills mean tough choices between heating or eating.
Under the scheme’s guidelines, low-carbon heating, including ground source heat pumps, can be installed where a ‘fabric first approach is taken’. Electrically-powered ground source heat pumps are sustainable, non-combustion devices generating no point of use emissions or pollution, and have been highlighted by government as a key part of the UK’s strategy to decarbonise heat, of which 37% of total UK carbon emissions are attributed to.
Using freely available heat energy from the ground, a ground source heat pump can deliver 3 to 4 kilowatts (kW) of heat for every 1kW of electricity it consumes, making it highly efficient. While modern condensing boilers can be up to 90% efficient, a ground source heat pump can achieve efficiencies of 400%, without the carbon emissions or air pollution created by burning fossil fuels.
The government’s 10-point-plan to put the UK back on track to meet its net-zero carbon target by 2050, states the aim to have 600,000 heat pump installations every year by 2028, and the Committee for Climate Change (CCC) has suggested this figure should even be increased to 900,000. This will require a massive scaling up of ground source heat pump installations, and Kensa believes that a Shared Ground Loop Array infrastructure is the key to achieving this.
Shared Ground Loop Arrays are a modern-day renewable alternative to the traditional gas network that allow multiple properties to benefit from communal clusters of boreholes, with individual heat pumps installed inside each property. This approach is perfect for multiple occupancy dwellings such as tower blocks. The retrofit of a three tower-block scheme with Kensa Contracting and Croydon Council has been documented in a recently launched film below.
The Croydon scheme provides a blueprint for the potential low-carbon retrofit of the 1.6 million flats in the UK, representing 41.8% of all households – a portion of which could be fast-tracked to warmer, greener, and cheaper homes through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.
Visit our SHDF page to find out more about the fund and how Kensa can help.
Summary: Ground source heat pumps manufactured and installed by Kensa will deliver the lowest carbon heating solution for the UK’s first net-zero carbon retirement community, creating a sustainable future for older generations.
Read the full story at kensacontracting.com
Kensa Group has been longlisted for the Ashden Award for Climate Innovation for a groundbreaking renewable heating upgrade project with Together Housing. As part of the project, homes across the North of England had their old heating systems replaced with ground source heat pumps.
Ashden, a UK charity, has been supporting transformative climate solutions for 20 years – advocating for the most exciting climate innovators. More than 800 organisations applied for the 2021 Ashden Awards, and Kensa is one of just 38 to have made it to the longlisting stage.
Kensa previously won the Ashden Awards back in 2008 in the Sustainable Buildings category. We were awarded for pioneering the adoption of ground source heat pump technology in the UK with award-winning British-made products.
The project itself is impressive. Since 2018, Kensa Contracting and housing association, Together Housing, have been on a mission to tackle fuel poverty and reduce the carbon footprint of the social landlord’s property portfolio.
The three-year ongoing project is the largest retrofit ground source heat pump programme of its kind to date. Over 1,200 of Kensa’s ground source heat pumps have been installed in social housing residences at 12 locations across Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Touching on the project’s ambitions, Patrick Berry, Managing Director of Together Energy, explains:
The ground source heat pump investment forms part of a strategic energy plan to improve affordability of stock for tenants, reduce carbon and take advantage of existing incentives and emerging energy markets.
The scheme has increased comfort levels and lowered heating costs by an average of 45% for hundreds of residents, a high proportion of whom are vulnerable. Many tenants have given positive feedback, with one commenting:
The new heating system is amazing, before it was so difficult to heat up more than one room in my home, but now I don’t have to worry about that.
The ground source heating systems will significantly cut carbon emissions in Together Housing’s property portfolio. The total lifetime carbon savings of the project is calculated as upwards of 44,858tCO2.
David Broom, Commercial Director of Kensa Contracting, says:
Kensa has pioneered the use of ground source heat pumps in social housing, developing capability to deliver increasingly ambitious market-leading projects, and our work with Together Housing is the largest of its kind delivered to date.
This scheme has been a true partnership of client and contractor working to achieve a shared goal of decarbonisation, reducing fuel poverty and providing affordable comfortable homes, through the adoption of British-manufactured renewable technology.
Over the past 13 years, Kensa Group has increased its capability and capacity to fulfil the rapidly expanding UK heat pump market. We continue to innovate, developing expert installation solutions to enable the large-scale deployment of ground source heat pumps within the social housing sector.
The award itself will target key areas with the potential to unlock significant carbon savings across the UK – including advances in energy systems (particularly heating), the built environment, and industrial innovation supporting a circular economy.
Ashden’s CEO, Harriet Lamb, says:
In the year that governments, climate innovators and activists gather at the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow, these inspiring climate champions demonstrate the many solutions that can be replicated at scale and speed.
The Ashden Awards focus on cutting-edge initiatives that are both green and fair – that deliver climate justice, create good jobs, train people in green skills, and cut carbon.
This year we have an amazing array of initiatives to choose from and judging is going to be tough! We cannot wait to showcase their outstanding innovations to the world when we announce the winners this autumn.
Through its awards and ongoing networking and support, Ashden spotlights and supports climate and energy innovators around the world – including businesses, non-profits and public sector organisations delivering proven, ready-to-scale climate solutions.
Award winners will be announced this Autumn after a rigorous assessment and judging process involving on-the-ground visits and input from sector experts.
In this exciting announcement, Kensa Heat Pumps has joined forces with Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club to take climate action. Now an Official Supporter of the Chiefs, the Kensa Heat Pumps name will appear on the back of the men’s home kit for the 21/22 Premiership season.
It makes sense for both South West brands to team up. Headquartered in Cornwall, and with offices just minutes from Sandy Park in Exeter, Kensa’s story isn’t so far removed from the Chief’s rise to the ‘top spot’.
The partnership is said to reflect the success stories of both the Chiefs and Kensa. The Chiefs have a settled structure and can attract the very best players; while as the South West’s largest low-carbon heating employer, Kensa provides a home for exceptional talent. In fact, heat pumps will play a vital role in helping the UK to reach a net-zero carbon future for 2050.
Stephanie Gregory, Marketing Director at Kensa Heat Pumps, says:
We are immensely proud to be supporters of Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club. As avid fans, and with a comparable South West success story, it has been a long-held ambition for Kensa to strengthen the relationship. Following unprecedented demand for heat pumps, we are now in the exciting position to officially support the Chiefs. With Kensa meaning ‘first’ in Cornish, it is poetic that the two organisations are united in an ambition to remain as champions in their respective fields.
Speaking of dealing with testing times, Stephanie adds:
In what has been a particularly trying time for all, sport has continued to provide a welcome dose of normality. We are privileged to be able to extend our support to the Chiefs and the sporting community, as we emerge from the grips of one crisis and re-set our sights on tackling the climate crisis. We wish the Chiefs luck in defending their titles this season, and look forward to sharing their journey in 21/22.
Looking at the simultaneous success of Kensa and the Chiefs, Simon Lomax, CEO of the Kensa Group, says:
We are delighted to be sponsoring the Exeter Chiefs. They are hugely respected for the manner of their progression to the top of the game. In many ways, the rise of the Chiefs has mirrored Kensa’s own growth over the past 20 years and goes to show that there is always a reward for a smart strategy, hard work, integrity and ingenuity – traits we like to think we share with the Chiefs. We look forward to partnering with them on what we are sure will be a highly successful season.
Kensa’s sponsorship is announced as the Exeter Chiefs are looking to retain their hard-won titles both in the domestic 2020/21 Premiership and European Champions Cup.
The sponsorship not only reflects Kensa’s admiration for the team’s triumph, but also the need to spread a message: heat pumps are the future of heating in homes. It’s a technology that is tried and tested, and offers the key to a low-carbon future.
Lisa Duncan, Sales and Marketing Director for the Exeter Chiefs, says:
As a club, we are delighted to embark on this new sponsorship agreement with Kensa Heat Pumps. As a strong Westcountry-brand themselves, it’s fantastic that we can work together to promote one another on a grand stage through their new kit sponsorship.
The 21/22 season commences this September. Watch this space for home kit previews!
Kensa Group CEO, Simon Lomax, acknowledges and welcomes the Government’s long-awaited response to the recent Part L Future Homes Consultation. The response, published 19th January 2021, states that from 2025, no new homes will be built with fossil fuel heating, such as a natural gas boiler.
The consultation response makes clear that Government sees heat pumps as the main low-carbon solution for new build dwellings under the Future Homes Standard. On that note, it significantly states that ‘low-carbon heating system will be integral to the specification of the Future Homes Standard and we anticipate that heat pumps will become the primary heating technology for new homes.’
Commenting on the response, Mr Lomax said:
Although we would always ask the Government to be prompter and more ambitious, we generally support the response which makes clear that heat pumps are expected to become the default heating choice at new-build dwellings from 2025.
We also welcome the continued opportunity for local authorities to specify planning conditions which mandate energy efficiency upgrades which are more demanding than mere compliance with the emerging regulations.
Based in Cornwall, Kensa has developed some unique solutions for the residential new-build sector. This includes the small-but-mighty Shoebox ground source heat pump which can be paired with a traditional cylinder or a heat battery. In most cases, the Shoebox is served by a Shared Ground Loop Array – Kensa’s low-carbon alternative to traditional district heating. The network eliminates issues that may arise with traditional heat networks, such as expensive heat losses or overheating in riders and corridors.
Shoebox heat pumps connected via Shared Ground Loop Arrays
According to Mr Lomax:
A ground source heat pump provides the lowest carbon solution as the technology is far more efficient than an air source heat pump, particularly on the coldest days. The achilles heel has always been the added cost of the array. Thankfully, we can now remove that cost from the housebuilder as there are many entities who will fund the underground architecture in return for a standing charge paid by the householder. A ground source heat pump now costs no more than an air source heat pump.
The technology has been installed at a new-build development in Bristol to help the city achieve its carbon-neutral pledge. 133 homes at Ashton Rise are being heated by individual Kensa ground source heat pumps connected to a Shared Ground Loop Array of boreholes. The installation will see each home making lifetime carbon savings of 30 tonnes compared to individual gas boilers, whilst also protecting local air quality from the harmful NOx emissions associated with fossil fuel heating systems.
Borehole drill rig at Ashton Rise
Two 15kW Evo ground source heat pumps were installed into a family home – featuring two separate dwellings – in Somerset. Connected by a Shared Ground Loop Array and coupled with solar PV, the system will help the family save money and carbon for years to come.
Kensa features again in the latest episode of H&V News’ Heatingcast, talking about the electrification of heat and transforming energy policy to help the UK achieve net-zero carbon.
In light of the Government’s 10-point plan for a ‘green industrial revolution’, this podcast looks at the wider changes that heating specialists want to see in the push to net-zero. What is the industry already doing to facilitate the transformation of energy to deliver affordable and sustainable energy to homes? And most importantly, what still needs to be done?
Kensa Heat Pumps’ Managing Director, James Standley, tells us how ground source heat pumps will form a vital part of the future energy mix. Hosted by H&V News’ Deputy Editor Neil Merrett, the podcast also features insight from Switchee’s Tom Robbins and Phillip Steele of Octopus Energy.
Listen to the first part of the Heatingcast – ‘Getting the UK Ready for the Electric Heat Switch’ – here.
As the country’s leading ground source heat pump supplier based in Truro, we are thrilled about the announcement of the upcoming G7 summit in Cornwall this June. It is a proud moment for the county.
On Kensa’s reaction to the G7 Summit coming to Cornwall, Simon Lomax, CEO of the Kensa Group, says:
We are delighted that the prime minister has chosen Cornwall as the venue for the upcoming G7 summit. The event will showcase to the world the many local businesses who have prospered in the low-carbon sector thanks to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Cornish, first demonstrated during the early years of mineral mining.
It is entirely appropriate that the prime minister has highlighted the need for a further ‘green revolution’, and there is no better place than Cornwall to demonstrate the tangible progress being made towards the government’s ambitious carbon reduction targets, ahead of the COP26 climate change conference being held in Glasgow later this year.
When announcing Carbis Bay, St Ives, as the venue for June’s G7 summit, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, said:
Two-hundred years ago Cornwall’s tin and copper mines were at the heart of the UK’s industrial revolution, and this summer Cornwall will again be the nucleus of great global change and advancement.
Kensa clearly evidences this progression. Established in 1999, and based at the former Mount Wellington Mine tin mine just outside of Truro, we have pioneered the adoption of ground source heat pumps – a renewable technology used to provide heating and hot water to all types of properties. Now with 50% market share, Kensa has added over 60 local jobs in the past year, and is planning to recruit many more skilled individuals over the coming months to meet demand.
Using heat stored in the ground, heat pumps deliver ultra-low-carbon heat, and their widespread adoption was mentioned in the Prime Minister’s 10-point-plan for a low carbon future published last autumn.
Simon Lomax continues:
The government has set a challenging target to eliminate carbon emissions by 2050, and has indicated it would like to see 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028, as properties move away from fossil fuel heating. To deliver on this ambition, it is essential that government develops long-term policies which allow companies like Kensa Group to plan for further growth in Cornwall and beyond.
Whilst world leaders will marvel at the stunning Cornish landscapes, the region remains one of the poorest in the UK, so it is vital that local employers creating jobs are supported by all stakeholders with an interest in the region’s prosperity.
Cornwall was once at the core of the UK’s industrial revolution, yet being the G7 Summit’s choice of venue now portrays its key role in the 21st-century green industrial revolution.
Medium-depth boreholes, which are drilled 300m below ground, differ from standard ground source heat pump borehole depths of 100 – 230m. Here, we examine the ways in which deeper boreholes could bring about more ground source opportunities for projects with limited land area – just like Daisyfield tower blocks.
Ground source heat pump technology is vastly underused within the UK, despite boasting the best system efficiencies versus any other heating technology. This is often the case for densely populated urban areas, where space for the ground array might be at a premium. When installing ground source heat pumps in these locations, borehole geometry is key; if boreholes are drilled to a standard depth of 100 – 230m, projects can be ruled as unfeasible as there is insufficient space to install the required number of boreholes.
Drilling to depths of 300 – 400m means more pipe can be installed in the ground for the same amount of ground-level surface area. This would allow the loops to absorb extra energy, sustaining a higher heat load for domestic properties or commercial premises in urban or high heat loss locations.
There are many advantages to deeper loop installs. Chief amongst them is the extra energy absorption per sqm of ground-level surface area. You can also save time versus shallower ground source heat pump borehole depths – as the loops would be installed deeper, and the drill rig would move less frequently. It could also reduce installation costs. This is particularly beneficial to retrofit projects, where completing the necessary Health and Safety measures required can be time-consuming.
However, there are challenges to overcome with medium-depth systems, such as pressure drop over the installation – with the need to keep parasitic pumping loads to a minimum. There are a few loop manufacturers who have developed – or are developing – new loops with a larger diameter to overcome this issue, but we must carefully consider hydraulic design. Geology across the UK varies and some sites may not be suitable for drilling medium-depth boreholes with standard equipment. We must find a balance between equipment requirements and design constraints.
The hydrostatic pressure of installed loops at depths of between 300 and 400m is another challenge. Complementary grouting and installation practices must be developed to ensure a high-quality, long-lasting functioning system is delivered.
Kensa Contracting is currently assessing ground source heat pump borehole depth through a staged progression to 400m, working with design and installation partners to quantify the costs and benefits.
Kensa Contracting has been installing ground source heat pump systems into both industrial facilities and district heating for some years. The carbon efficiency of ground source is long proven and becoming widely accepted – benefitting both developers and end users. The use of medium-depth boreholes can only improve a recognised installation method for district heating, which is more commonly installed in highly-populated areas with limited space available for boreholes.
The ground array can be further utilised for cooling as well as heating, allowing inter-seasonal storage of energy within the ambient-temperature pipework. Couple this with load-shifting initiatives achieved through smart controls that balance peak heat demand and ground source heat pump systems with medium-depth boreholes present an excellent option in both high density and remote areas.
There is a great opportunity to meet government carbon reduction targets for heating through the increased use of boreholes and ground source heat pumps. Each type of borehole design, either shallow, medium or deep, will have their place. And as always with ground source system design, each project must be viewed independently, using the right solution for the building load’s specific project constraints. The challenge of increasing the uptake of ground source heat pumps requires further education of the house building industry to change perceptions on cost and value.
The longevity of the ground array infrastructure and minimal maintenance costs ensure ground source heat pumps offer the lowest lifetime cost of ownership of any heating technology. This provides developers with a unique investment opportunity to offset the initial cost through readily available funding streams.
Combine financial benefits with reduced compliance requirements, zero point-of-use emissions and no visual impact, and ground source heat pumps should be considered by the industry as a vital part of the solution for the decarbonisation of heat.
The electrification of heating is the main route to achieving net-zero carbon. This video explores Kensa’s efficient and cost-effective vision for large-scale renewable heating and cooling with low carbon energy systems – offering a solution to reducing carbon emissions, combatting air pollution, and tackling climate change.
Discover how ground source heat pumps can form an integral part of low carbon energy systems – connecting buildings and communities – thanks to an innovative design featuring ambient temperature loops linked to shared ground arrays. Also, find out the role of hydrogen could play in our vision.
Want to learn more? See a real-life low carbon energy superhub in the making, featuring a virtual site tour.
Join Dr Matthew Trewhella, Managing Director of Kensa Contracting, as he takes you on a site tour of Energy Superhub Oxford‘s heating trial.
In collaboration with Stonewater Housing, 60 homes are being retrofitted with Shoebox ground source heat pumps and smart controls. The trial will reduce heating bills, combat carbon emissions and optimise heating schedules for residents – shifting the heat pump’s time of electricity consumption to when the electricity grid is at its lowest in cost and carbon.
Matthew introduces the borehole drilling process and an insightful step-by-step guide to the ingenuity of heat pumps and smart controls. He’s joined by Oxford City Councillor, Tom Hayes, who addresses the city’s response to its Climate Emergency declaration in 2019 – and how it’s paving the way for net-zero 2050 with the large-scale decarbonisation of heat, power and transport. We hear feedback from resident, Paul, who has already had his heat pump installed.
The video also features insight from Stonewater Housing’s Sustainability Project Manager, Adam Masters, who highlights the association’s aims to contribute to the net-zero carbon target, and the importance of decarbonising their existing homes.
The heating phase plays a part in Energy Superhub Oxford’s overall goal to reduce Oxford’s carbon emissions by 10,000 tonnes each year. This will be achieved with three main elements: electric vehicle charging, battery energy storage and ground source heating.
Want to learn more about Energy Superhub Oxford? See Kensa Contracting’s case study.
