Going overground: Kensa goes on the road to “demystify” ground source heat pumps
3rd September 2014
Following the launch of the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and the release of a landmark new heat pump model, Cornwall-based Kensa Heat Pumps is going on the road to “demystify” ground source heat pump technology. Thomas McMullan finds out more.
Kensa Heat Pumps has been manufacturing ground source heat pumps from its plant in Cornwall for the past 15 years. But until now, it’s been a pretty underground affair. All that is about to change, though. Next week, Kensa embarks on what it describes as an “18 date tour” of the UK “as part of a campaign to demystify ground source heat pumps”.
A ground source heat pump revolution?
A ground source heat pump revolution?
The company is calling 2014 “the most significant in the history of the ground source heat pump market”. The reason has something to do with a new version of “landmark new model” of ground source heat pump released by Kensa this summer, and a lot to do with the launch of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for homeowners in April. The RHI allows homes across the UK to claim hundreds of pounds for the heat they generate from renewable technologies such as biomass boilers and ground source heat pumps.
“The domestic RHI was launched without much fanfare and mainstream media interest has been modest,” says Simon Lomax, managing director of Kensa. “That said, the supply chain finally has a definitive message to take to market since the RHI tariffs and eligibility requirements have been confirmed.
“The domestic RHI was launched without much fanfare and mainstream media interest has been modest,” says Simon Lomax, managing director of Kensa. “That said, the supply chain finally has a definitive message to take to market since the RHI tariffs and eligibility requirements have been confirmed.
“In Kensa’s case, it is very much a proactive message, trying to educate the market and supporting installation partners to target select properties where the appeal of the RHI is likely to be strongest.”
Kensa is a pioneer in ground-sourced heat pump technology, where large volumes of lowgrade heat are extracted and upgraded through a compressor system to provide space heating and hot water. Since being founded in 1999, the company has gone on to become the most successful UK manufacturer of the technology.
‘Underground movement’
Kensa is a pioneer in ground-sourced heat pump technology, where large volumes of lowgrade heat are extracted and upgraded through a compressor system to provide space heating and hot water. Since being founded in 1999, the company has gone on to become the most successful UK manufacturer of the technology.
‘Underground movement’
But explaining this to the market has not always been easy. That’s why Kensa is launching an installer roadshow, supported by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), that aims to push ground source heat pump technology further out onto the surface of the market. Beginning in Cambridge on September 10, the roadshows will run throughout October and November, re-commencing after the heating season in February and March 2015 and taking in locations from Scotland to Cornwall.
“Our installer roadshows are taking ground source to the masses, supporting our ‘underground movement’ heating revolution,” says Stephanie Gregory, marketing manager for Kensa. The ‘underground movement’ refers to Kensa’s accredited partner scheme, which sets out to deliver “a support framework to encourage mainstream take-up of ground source heat pump installations”.
Heat pump innovation
“Our installer roadshows are taking ground source to the masses, supporting our ‘underground movement’ heating revolution,” says Stephanie Gregory, marketing manager for Kensa. The ‘underground movement’ refers to Kensa’s accredited partner scheme, which sets out to deliver “a support framework to encourage mainstream take-up of ground source heat pump installations”.
Heat pump innovation
Star of the roadshow will be Kensa’s innovative Shoebox – the smallest ground source heat pump on the market. First launched in 2012, the three kilowatt (kW) Shoebox, is designed to provide space heating and domestic hot water for flats and small dwellings. This summer, Kensa announced its latest model, the 6 kW Shoebox Twin heat pump.
“As the market expands, more bespoke products will be required to satisfy specific niches,” says Lomax. “The Shoebox range of ground source heat pumps offers an ultra small and ultra quiet low output model, ideal for small new build apartments and houses. These properties are well insulated for which traditional heat pumps are too large, both in terms of thermal output and physical dimensions.”
Lomax points to the technology’s discreetness as an important selling point: “When compared to every other renewable heat technology, ground source heat pumps offer lower running costs and lower carbon emissions. Importantly, they are entirely unobtrusive, side-stepping concerns about visual impact and noise which impact other technologies.”
“As the market expands, more bespoke products will be required to satisfy specific niches,” says Lomax. “The Shoebox range of ground source heat pumps offers an ultra small and ultra quiet low output model, ideal for small new build apartments and houses. These properties are well insulated for which traditional heat pumps are too large, both in terms of thermal output and physical dimensions.”
Lomax points to the technology’s discreetness as an important selling point: “When compared to every other renewable heat technology, ground source heat pumps offer lower running costs and lower carbon emissions. Importantly, they are entirely unobtrusive, side-stepping concerns about visual impact and noise which impact other technologies.”
British heritage
Being based on the site of a former tin mine near Truro in Cornwall not only demonstrates the company’s ties to the ground, but also to the heritage of British industry. With all of the company’s products manufactured in Cornwall, Kensa recently joined the ‘Made in Britain’ campaign, which sets out to enable customers to identify British made products and promote British manufacturing.
Speaking about their support for the campaign, Gregory underlines the importance of national heritage to the company’s identity: “By aligning ourselves with a national campaign this provides us with a recognisable marque to easily communicate our heritage as well as demonstrate our commitment to British engineering at its best,” says Gregory.
Renewable Heat Incentive
Being based on the site of a former tin mine near Truro in Cornwall not only demonstrates the company’s ties to the ground, but also to the heritage of British industry. With all of the company’s products manufactured in Cornwall, Kensa recently joined the ‘Made in Britain’ campaign, which sets out to enable customers to identify British made products and promote British manufacturing.
Speaking about their support for the campaign, Gregory underlines the importance of national heritage to the company’s identity: “By aligning ourselves with a national campaign this provides us with a recognisable marque to easily communicate our heritage as well as demonstrate our commitment to British engineering at its best,” says Gregory.
Renewable Heat Incentive
But what of the domestic RHI? And just how much is Kensa relying on this Government scheme to drive uptake of its technology? While the Government has maintained the incentive is “proving popular”, there have been criticisms in the media of slow take-up of the RHI.
Last month, Chris Davis, commercial director of Kensa, delivered a pragmatic response to low initial take-up of the domestic RHI, saying that the low number of installations came as “no surprise.”
Lomax appears pragmatic about the scheme as well: “For sure, ‘carrots’ such as the RHI will be phased out and will likely be replaced by ‘sticks’ delivered via more stringent building regulations or planning conditions,” he says.
But for now, anyway, Lomax and his team at Kensa are going overground and using the RHI to take their message about the benefits of ground source heat pumps to the nation.
Last month, Chris Davis, commercial director of Kensa, delivered a pragmatic response to low initial take-up of the domestic RHI, saying that the low number of installations came as “no surprise.”
Lomax appears pragmatic about the scheme as well: “For sure, ‘carrots’ such as the RHI will be phased out and will likely be replaced by ‘sticks’ delivered via more stringent building regulations or planning conditions,” he says.
But for now, anyway, Lomax and his team at Kensa are going overground and using the RHI to take their message about the benefits of ground source heat pumps to the nation.
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