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Latest Kensa Group news & announcements

Kensa's Networked Heat Pumps Revolutionize UK Heating

Britain’s renowned ground source heat pump manufacturer and networked heat pump installer has united its brands under the banner of 'Kensa', unveiling its mission to deliver heating that’s better for everyone. The changes come as Kensa celebrates 25 years of pioneering cleaner, greener heating. During this time, Kensa’s innovative networked heat pump systems have proven their value across society. From towerblock flats to terraced houses, new build developments, schools, offices and listed buildings, Kensa has shown its heat decarbonization solutions can bring better heating for everyone. Upgrade to the nation’s heating Kensa is uniting expertise in heat pump manufacturing, system design, networked heat pump delivery, and utility funding With over two-thirds of UK homes still reliant on gas heating, and millions more facing high costs from direct electric and night storage systems, the need for change is urgent. Entering a new era with refreshed branding, a revamped purpose, and a streamlined business, Kensa is focused on delivering an upgrade to the nation’s heating. To achieve its mission of making affordable, efficient heating accessible to all, Kensa is uniting expertise in heat pump manufacturing, system design, networked heat pump delivery, and utility funding and ownership. This unique approach is unmatched elsewhere in the UK and positions Kensa as a pioneer in the nation’s heating revolution. Kensa’s networked heat pumps Kensa’s refreshed branding reflects a modern identity while honoring its Cornish roots. Alongside this, Kensa has launched a sleek new, user-friendly website tailored to its ever-growing audience. Whether tenants, homeowners, installers, business owners, or social landlords, the site provides a streamlined experience and reliable information about ground source heat pumps. Building on a 25-year legacy of being a sustainable heating pioneer, Kensa is preparing for a low-carbon future powered by networked heat pumps. Legal & General and Octopus Energy Generation Kensa aims to prove more efficient, affordable heating isn’t just possible; it’s the future Entering 2025 with delivery partnerships in place, a strong pipeline of projects and backing from Legal & General and Octopus Energy Generation, Kensa aims to prove more efficient, affordable heating isn’t just possible; it’s the future. Tamsin Lishman, Kensa CEO, said: "Heating needs an upgrade. For too long, we’ve been reliant on outdated, inefficient systems that are expensive to run and damaging to the environment. We’re here to change that. It’s time to end the era of high bills and high emissions. It’s time to make heating better for everyone." Ground source heat pump solutions Tamsin Lishman added: "Our ground source heat pump solutions are designed to work for all building types, whether it’s a high-rise flat, a new-build property, or one of the millions of existing buildings across the UK. Designed and made in Britain, our systems provide clean, reliable, and cost-effective heating and cooling that’s both simple and familiar." She concludes, "We’ve spent 25 years improving how properties are heated, and now we’re ready to write the next chapter. With our refreshed mission, focus and branding, and with networked heat pumps at the core of our operations, we’re combining decades of expertise and a commitment to British manufacturing to deliver heating that’s better for people, their pockets, and the planet!"

Kensa Ground Source Heat Pumps: Superior Efficiency

Kensa, the UK’s pioneering ground source heat pump manufacturer and provider of networked heat pump solutions, welcomes new government-backed research confirming ground source heat pumps are the most efficient form of heating, and significantly more efficient than gas boilers. Heat Pump Performance report The In-Situ Heat Pump Performance report, which examined heat pump performance shows: Ground source heat pumps are on average 324% efficient Air source heat pumps are on average 265% efficient Efficiencies of heat pumps New data highlights the superior efficiencies of heat pumps and shows major energy and carbon savings Now also saw the Energy System’s Catapult publish its Electrification of Heat Report, which showed that air-source heat pumps are, on average, 281% efficient. These efficiencies compare with an average of 82.5% efficiency of gas boilers found by a previous government-backed in-situ study. This new data highlights the superior efficiencies of heat pumps and demonstrates the major energy and carbon savings they offer over other heating technologies. Even with major disparities between electricity and gas prices, the efficiencies of heat pumps detailed in the reports also mean ground source heat pumps can provide notable energy bill savings when switching from gas and other traditional heating technologies. Electrification of Heat Report The Electrification of Heat Report also highlights the high-performance levels of ground-source heat pumps even at subzero temperatures in the depths of winter. This illustrates the important role ground sources can play in managing grid capacity issues as heat pumps are installed in millions of homes across the UK. Commenting on the findings, Kensa CEO Tamsin Lishman said: “This new research shows beyond doubt that heat pumps are the most efficient way of heating homes, three to four times more efficient than gas boilers. As a manufacturer and installer of ground source heat pumps, it’s pleasing to see real-world data confirming the technology is the most efficient heating technology available, over 40% more efficient even than air source heat pumps." Reduced electricity demand Electrification of Heat Report shows the high-performance levels of heat pumps even at subzero temperatures Lishman added: “Importantly, the report shows ground source heat pumps perform well even when temperatures drop below zero, meaning reduced electricity demand and less pressure on the grid. This is a critical finding for how we achieve the mass roll-out of heat pumps, with millions of homes poised to switch to electrified heating." “However, even with these efficiencies today’s energy prices still mean it’s only slightly cheaper to run a heat pump than a gas boiler in a typical British home. At a time when we need to be weening ourselves off fossil fuels, it doesn’t make sense that electricity is still four times the price of gas. It’s critical the government acts now to remove the levies artificially pushing up the price of electricity." Installation of gas boilers Lishman concluded: “Combine the continually improving efficiencies of heat pumps with lower power prices, and we’ll see the significant real-world savings consumers can make by switching to low-carbon heating." "With this and ending the installation of gas boilers in new homes, the government can normalize heat pumps in UK homes and kick start the transition to clean affordable heat.”

Kensa's Ground Source Heat Pumps At Taff’s Well Pavilion

A primary school and bowls pavilion in a South Wales village have switched to clean, renewable heating, but in an innovative way that cannot be replicated anywhere else in Wales. Ffynnon Taf Primary School and the Pavilion at Taff’s Well Bowling Club in Taff’s Well, Wales, have had a bold new heating system installed by Kensa, the UK-based Ground Source Heat Pump specialists, that uses naturally occurring heat from the only thermal spring in Wales – the historic Taff’s Well Spring. This unique water source heat pump system harnesses natural heat from the warm spring water, which emerges from deep beneath the earth at around 21°C, to provide the two council-owned properties with low-carbon heating and hot water. Kensa’s ground source heat pumps  Using the innovative clean heating method instead of gas is expected to cut the school and pavilion’s carbon emissions linked to heating by close to 80%. It also demonstrated a way of using Kensa’s ground source heat pumps without drilling vertical boreholes to access heat energy stored in the ground. The bold idea of using the Taff's Well thermal spring to heat buildings was initially proposed by the Friends of Taff’s Well community group, who were looking at other ways the historic spring could benefit the local community. Renewable heating installations The project follows other retrofit renewable heating facilities met in non-domestic buildings by Kensa This project follows other retrofit renewable heating installations completed in non-domestic buildings by Kensa. Using ground source heat pump technology the UK’s pioneering manufacturer and solutions provider has futureproofed heating and lowered carbon emissions caused by heat in multiple UK schools and council properties. The unique installation also highlights the versatility of Kensa’s ground source heat pump systems and forms part of Rhondda Cynon Taf Borough Council’s ambitious plans to decarbonize by 2030. How the system works Kensa’s ground source heat pumps, found in thousands of UK properties, are usually set up to source energy from the ground to provide heating and hot water. The one-of-a-kind installation at Taff’s Well pumps warm water from the spring and passes it through a nearby heat exchanger, which is connected to Kensa’s ground source heat pumps housed inside the school and pavilion. In this highly energy-efficient system, heat energy stored in the warm spring water is absorbed and converted by the heat pumps into usable energy for the school and pavilion’s heating and hot water systems. While in the system, the water is confined to its own pipework, mostly hidden under the ground and out of sight, and doesn’t encounter any other substances to ensure there’s no issue of contamination or pollution. To keep the connecting pipework hidden and to avoid above-ground damage, Kensa horizontally drilled hundreds of meters between the Well, the school, and the pavilion. After passing through the system, the clean water is emptied back into the Well’s overflow, feeding into the River Taff. This is the only system installed by Cornwall-based Kensa that uses a natural thermal spring as a heat source. New low-carbon heating Kensa’s Dr. Gadsden saw the site, along with reps from Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council On Tuesday, 16th July, Kensa’s Dr. Stuart Gadsden visited the site, along with representatives from Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, to demonstrate to pupils from the Ffynon Taf Primary School’s Eco Committee how their new low-carbon heating and hot water system works. Dr. Stuart Gadsden, Kensa Contracting Commercial Director, said: “This is an incredibly unique system and really demonstrates how versatile Kensa’s ground source heat pumps are. It was great to show the pupils how their exciting new heating system works and how it will reduce their carbon footprint." Ground source heat pump technology Gadsden added: “Kensa has a proven track record of delivering the high efficiencies of ground source heat pump technology for numerous UK schools and local authorities, providing them with a futureproofed low-carbon heating system." “Using the historic Taff’s Well thermal spring as a renewable heat source is a brilliant example of how bold ideas can lead to something that benefits future generations. It’s something the whole community can be proud of, and we were pleased to play our part in making it happen.” Success of the thermal spring installation Ffynnon Taf Primary School Headteacher, Kathryn Price, said: “We are very excited about how Taff’s Well Thermal Spring has been utilized for the whole school community. Our Eco Committee thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the heat pump system and how this helps to reduce the school’s carbon footprint. We will continue to celebrate the success of the thermal spring installation in our community for many years to come.” Jon Arroyo, Energy and Carbon Reduction Manager at Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council said: “We have the ambition to decarbonize the Council by 2030 and we understand there is no one solution to decarbonize our heating systems, so it is important that we look at what heat resources are around or under us. As a Council, we see our role in exploring alternative solutions to help steer our businesses and residents in their journey towards a net zero future.”

Insights & Opinions from thought leaders at Kensa Group

How Heat Pumps Can Accelerate Our Journey To Net Zero By Tackling Decarbonization On A Mass Scale

Decarbonizing heat is one of, if not the biggest challenges we face in our journey to net zero. Most of the heat in UK homes and businesses is currently provided through fossil fuels, predominantly gas. Gas releases carbon emissions and other particles that are bad for air quality and bad for our environment. So, to get to net-zero we need to replace gas as our main source of heat. The Government plans to phase out gas boilers in newly build homes from 2025, but with the vast majority of existing homes reliant on gas as the energy source to heat their homes, many householders fear a ‘gas boiler ban’ without a realistic and reliable alternative. This needs to be addressed. The challenge These grants will only cover a fraction of the 600,000 per year installation target set for 2028 To nudge the change in consumer purchasing behavior, a £5,000 grant was announced by the government in its heat and buildings strategy as part of a £450m Boiler Upgrade Scheme to install low-carbon systems. But many commentators have pointed out that these grants will only cover a fraction of the 600,000 per year installation target set for 2028. Both the Climate Change Committee and the UK Government have said that to reach net-zero we should be aiming to install 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028. That’s a big scaling up of the existing market, as to date between 30,000 to 40,000 pumps are installed each year. Heat pump technology Heat pumps have been highlighted by the government in their recent Heat and Buildings Strategy as a key solution to decarbonizing our economy. That is why, Kensa Group, Britain’s ground source heat pump experts, recognize the need to make sure people understand clearly how heat pumps work and how they can provide the comfort of current heating systems but operate more efficiently over their lifetime. There are two types of heat pumps - air source and ground source, the latter of which use pipes to extract heat and waste heat from the ground to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems, cool and provide hot water. Ground source heat pumps provide the lowest capital cost heat decarbonization pathway with reduced running costs, reduced electrical generation and storage requirements, and importantly carbon savings. Emissions from gas boilers A ground source heat pump can be 300-400% efficient, delivering three to four times the amount of energy Typical emissions from a gas boiler are 226g/kWh – this equates to up to 2.7 tonnes per year for an average house – the equivalent of driving 12,000 miles in an average family car. The emissions level of a ground source heat pump is 53g/kWh. Similarly, modern gas boilers can be around 90% efficient – a ground source heat pump can be 300-400% efficient, delivering three to four times the amount of energy they consume from electricity. The pipework of underground infrastructure will last upwards of 100 years so a one-off investment will provide heat for generations to come. Yet the true benefits that heat pumps can bring won’t ever make the impact needed unless they are introduced at scale. Moving to heat pumps One option includes a solution that takes responsibility away from individuals to change their boilers to one that introduces a large-scale network of ground source heat pumps similar to the design and infrastructure of the current gas grid. It’s a bold idea but one that manufacturers, the government, and the energy sector are exploring with one study predicting a move to networked heat pumps could save the UK an estimated £1bn a year to 2050. The infrastructure By shifting the emphasis from consumers getting rid of their boilers and installing individual infrastructure for ground source heat pumps on an ad-hoc house-by-house basis, a move to a pre-installation of utility-scale underground infrastructure (how the gas grid works today), it’s believed the 600,000 annual heat pump target could be met. With the infrastructure funded, owned, and maintained by a utility supplier or local authority, for example, the cost is removed from consumers who can then easily and cheaply change to a heat pump as and when they’re ready and pay a standing charge similar to what they do for their existing gas supply. Accelerate net-zero ambitions Kensa Heat Pumps is giving people the chance to see first-hand how alternative heating could work This approach has the promise to be a mass-market and mass scale solution which if adopted, could transform our low carbon landscape and accelerate net-zero ambitions. The challenge is how we make this a reality at scale because we need action to start soon, as time continues to run away from us. Using the latest augmented reality technology, Kensa Heat Pumps is giving people the chance to see first-hand how this alternative heating could work in communities like theirs, as an entire street has been stripped of boilers and switched to heat pumps in a virtual makeover. Bringing the future of heating to life Using the real-life inner-city suburb of Green Street in Glasgow as a basis for the AR experience, Kensa’s virtual tour guide Doug sets out just how the ground source heat pumps and network can heat entire streets from houses to tower blocks, in a ground-breaking concept called ‘Welcome to Green Street’. The virtual street map ‘Welcome to Green Street’, launched at COP26, proves how a whole systems approach to decarbonizing how we heat our homes can unlock benefits across communities, and complement and balance the electricity network as we come to rely more heavily on it with heating and electric vehicles.

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