Major Partnership to Deliver Heat Pumps to Thousands of New Builds
The UK’s largest installer and operator of last mile multi-utility networks, GTC, and the UK’s leading manufacturer and installer of award-winning, British-made, ground source heat pumps, The Kensa Group, have joined forces to deliver a low-cost renewable heating and cooling solution for tens of thousands of new build homes a year – introducing the Networked Ground Source Heat Pump solution.
This solution offers a clean alternative to gas, which is planned to be banned in new build developments from next year under the Future Homes Standard, requiring all new homes to have low-carbon heating.
The Networked Ground Source Heat Pump solution provides reliable home heating and hot water through a ground source heat pump installed in each property, connected to a shared network of hidden underground pipework, similar to those installed for other utilities.
Kensa’s compact ‘Shoebox’ heat pump will fit neatly under the water cylinder inside the home, saving valuable space and eliminating the need for any external kit, so there’s no visual impact on the property.
With up to five times the efficiency of gas and a 30% increased efficiency than an equivalent air source heat pump, these ground source heat pumps require no extra electricity capacity, easing developer concerns about site grid capacity.
The partnership leverages each firm’s expertise in technology and delivery
The GTC and Kensa partnership, the largest to be agreed between a utility infrastructure provider and a UK ground source heat pump manufacturer, will bring significant scale, funding, and technical skill to the deployment of networked ground source heat pumps for the new-build market – delivering a complete end-to-end heating, hot water, and cooling solution for housebuilders.
Through this groundbreaking agreement, GTC will provide the funded solution to housing developers, along with the design, borehole drilling, and network installation, which can be implemented alongside the other utility networks as part of a one-stop shop.
Kensa, which has pioneered networked ground source heat pumps in the UK for more than a decade, will add its expertise in infrastructure and design capabilities and supply its highly efficient, UK-manufactured ground source heat pumps to fit each property.
By joining forces, GTC and Kensa will help UK housebuilders and developers transition to a proven, sustainable, low-carbon heating solution in line with the planned phase-out of gas. It will offer home buyers a lower-carbon, more efficient alternative to individual air source heat pumps. The Networked Ground Source Heat Pump solution can also be used to heat and cool any non-domestic buildings within a development.
GTC Executive Chairman, Clive Linsdell, said: “A big challenge housebuilders face is additional grid capacity for low carbon technologies.
“This partnership brings an end-to-end heat, hot water, and cooling solution with the same power requirements as gas-heated homes.
“Our working with Kensa provides housebuilders and developers reassurance around the quality of installation and equipment, and homeowners 100% peace of mind in relation to its ongoing operation and maintenance.”
Echoing these sentiments, Kensa Group CEO, Tamsin Lishman added: “We are delighted to partner with GTC to bring this leading heating and cooling solution to the UK’s housebuilders.
“Using the heat from the ground beneath our feet, boosted by Kensa’s small and highly efficient ground source heat pumps, homeowners will enjoy comfort and warmth, at low costs.
“We’ve been delivering this proven solution at scale for over a decade, providing reliable home heating to thousands of UK homes, and by working with GTC, we look forward to delivering a successful transition to electrified heating.”
Legal & General Capital Managing Director – Clean Energy Strategy & Investments, John Bromley, also commented: “As an experienced energy transition investor and asset manager across multiple housing tenures, we understand the opportunity for both innovative technologies and infrastructure to decarbonise key sectors like real estate.
“We invest to scale up innovative businesses like Kensa with high growth potential and robust solutions, like their versatile networked ground source heat pumps that provide long-term value and can be deployed at speed and at scale.
“We are delighted that their latest partnership with market leaders like GTC will accelerate the delivery of Kensa’s leading heating and cooling solution and generate long-term positive societal and economic impacts across the UK.”
