Ground Source Heat Pump Scheme

Introduction

Residents in around 60 council homes will have their lives changed and bills reduced thanks to ground source heat pumps in Appledore and Charing. The £2.2m scheme is the first time that the Council has installed GSHP heating systems in residential properties.

The scheme is part of a bigger drive by the Council to retrofit around 700 homes with energy-saving measures using Government funding of £5.1m. The money – from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2 administered by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero – is bolstered by a £6.2m contribution from the council.

Improvements already delivered includes cavity wall insulation, external wall insulation, new windows and doors, under floor insulation, air source heat pumps and solar panels.

The ground source heat pumps scheme will cut carbon emissions, help reduce energy demand and give residents more money in their pockets from cheaper energy bills. We are working closely with the tenants to ensure they understand how the GSHP systems work and to recognise the tremendous benefits they will enjoy because of these exciting improvements.

Embracing GSHP technology is an exciting first for the Council and is set to help transform tenants’ lives by boosting energy security, saving money and providing a warmer and more comfortable home for them to enjoy.  In addition, the upgrades to our most energy-inefficient rural homes will help ABC with our ambition to become a carbon neutral borough by 2030.

Work on installing the hi-tech low-carbon systems involves drilling multiple bore holes to depths of around 100 metres. It started in March and is due to be completed in the second half of the year. The Council is working with British GSHP specialist Kensa to deliver the project. Kensa has successfully installed ground source heat pumps in thousands of council homes in the UK.

The ground source heat pumps will be fitted at homes in Heathside and Hawthorn in Appledore and Clearmount Drive in Charing, replacing the existing mix of oil-fired, electric and gas heating systems.

Drilling bore holes 100 metres deep – how the technology works

Ground source heat pumps are an effective, highly efficient low-carbon heating system that harnesses natural, freely available heat stored in the ground. The heat pump collects this low-grade heat and boosts it to a higher temperature to provide the home with low-cost heating and hot water whenever the resident needs it.

For this project, multiple boreholes will be drilled deep underground and fitted with a network of pipes. A mixture of water and antifreeze circulates within these pipes, absorbing the natural heat from the earth. This mix is then passed through the heat pump, which compresses and enhances this energy so it can heat the water used in the home’s radiators and hot water systems.

The Kensa Shoebox heat pumps set to be installed for this project are compact enough to fit inside each property and will provide the home with heat via radiators as part of a traditional central heating system.

Working with our tenants

Ashford Borough Council and Kensa are working closely with tenants in Appledore and Charing to ensure they are kept fully informed about the ground source heat pump works. The project team continue to be in regular contact with residents of the homes, with further home visits and regular communications planned.

Who are Kensa? 

• Kensa is the UK’s leading ground source heat pump manufacturer and networked heat pump installer.
• Since its founding in 1999, Kensa has manufactured more than 16,000 ground source heat pumps, helped thousands of social housing tenants lower their heating bills and saved over one million tonnes in carbon emissions by decarbonising heat.
• Kensa is partly owned by Legal & General and Octopus Energy Generation. Backed by £70m in investment, Kensa is working with cities, communities, housebuilders, social housing providers, installers and homeowners to deliver heating that’s better for everyone.

Ground Source Heat Pump Q&As

Q: What is a ground source heat pump? 

A ground source heat pump is a renewable heating system that provides heating and hot water for a home all year round. Like a gas boiler, a ground source heat pump is usually fitted inside the home and delivers heat through a modern central heating system.

Q: How does a ground source heat pump work? 

A borehole is drilled underground, and a pipe is placed inside it. A cold liquid is circulated around the pipe in the borehole and absorbs heat energy from the surrounding ground. The pipe carries this heat energy from the ground via this liquid, into the heat pump. The heat pump ‘compresses’ the heat energy from this liquid and raises its temperature so it can heat the water used in the heating and hot water system. 

Q: How will a ground source heat pump provide heating and hot water? 

The ground source heat pump will provide heating via the new radiator system and hot water via a new cylinder/tank. This will provide residents with year-round warmth and hot water, as and when they need it. 

Q: What is a borehole? 

Ground source heat pump boreholes are vertical ground arrays or collectors. They are used to absorb the renewable energy stored deep underground used by the ground source heat pump.

Q: How much does a ground source heat pump cost to run? 

Running costs will depend on the individual property and its heating and hot water demands. Ground source heat pump systems are around 30%-50% cheaper to run than electric or night storage heaters and will cost around the same as running a gas boiler, if not slightly cheaper. 

Q: How long will the ground source heat pump last? 

Kensa’s ground source heat pump units are expected to last for 20-25 years. The underground pipework installed in the boreholes is expected to last for 100+ years. 

Q: Who is Kensa and how long have they been installing ground source heat pumps? 

Kensa is the UK’s leading ground source heat pump manufacturer and has been installing these systems for 25 years. Kensa has significant experience installing its heat pumps in social housing, providing reliable, efficient heating and hot water systems for thousands of homes across the UK.

Q: Does a ground source heat pump produce any carbon emissions? 

Ground source heat pumps are powered by electricity and produce no carbon or nitrous oxide emissions at the point of use. 

Q: Will the ground source heat pump be inside or outside the home? 

In most cases Kensa’s compact ground source heat pumps will be discreetly stored inside the property, either in an airing cupboard or utility room. Where this is not possible, they will be housed in an external, weatherproof enclosure. 

Q: Are ground source heat pump systems easy to use? 

Ground source heat pumps operate just like any other heating and hot water system. Residents will be able to control how and when they need heating and hot water by using the installed time clock and/or thermostat. Instructions will be provided on how to use these once the system has been installed. 

Residents should be aware that heat pump systems take slightly longer to provide heating and hot water than a traditional gas central heating or direct electric system. Advice on how to get the most out of the heat pump system can be found in the user information pack.

Q: What are the benefits of a ground source heat pump system?

Ground source heat pumps work effectively all year round, no matter what the temperature is outside, as the underground energy they use is unaffected. Because the underground temperature remains steady all year round, the heat pump doesn’t have to work as hard to produce heating and hot water—this makes the system very energy efficient and helps keep energy costs down. 

As the heat pumps are stored inside they are protected from outside elements, making them reliable, long-lasting and needing very little maintenance. As ground source heat pumps are a renewable heating system, they produce no harmful emissions at the point of use and can reduce carbon emissions by around 80% compared to gas. 

Ground source heat pumps are also very reliable and require very little servicing and maintenance once installed.