Kensa networked geothermal heat pumps for social housing
Project Background:
The British company Kensa Group is a manufacturer of ground source heat pumps, a contractor for large scale geothermal and heat pump installations as well as an infrastructure asset company. They specialise in low temperature geothermal heating grids with small, networked heat pumps installed in each apartment. This is a cost-effective solution for retrofitting large residential buildings such as tower blocks and social housing. All Kensa heat pumps are manufactured in Cornwall.
Research Phase:
Kensa was founded in 1999 as a ground source heat pump manufacturer and became a pioneer in the adoption of heat pump technology in the UK developing simplified and less costly solutions. They were the first to create a ground source heat pump small and quiet enough to be installed inside flats and apartments.
Kensa Contracting was established in 2013 borne out of the realisation that the large-scale deployment of ground source heat pumps in existing social housing could address fuel poverty and deliver carbon reduction targets. The first such project was realised for the Yarlington Housing Association in the same year.
Transition to Market:
The company continued to develop its technology and business model partnering with existing framework contractors whilst taking care of the design, specification, project management, householder liaison, specialist sub-contractor supervision, equipment supply, commissioning, and support with access to subsidies.
One of Kensa's largest project is the replacement of electric heating in eight social housing tower blocks in partnership with the Enfield Council, near London. Commissioned in 2018, it is England’s largest shared ground loop array heat pump system with 100 geothermal boreholes and over 400 small heat pumps. On the one hand, the use of individual heat pumps minimises heat losses as water in the heating grid circulates at lower temperatures before reaching the flats. On the other hand, it gives residents more control over their expenses as they only pay for the heating and hot water they actually use adding to flexibility and comfort.
Investor Support:
Many of Kensa's project have received funding from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) which was introduced in 2021.
Market Success:
By 2024, Kensa has installed nearly 6000 ground source heat pumps in 215 retrofit projects 110 new building projects.
Impact:
The installation of the networked geothermal heat pump systems has a great impact on the tenants whose energy bills have been reduced and who gained more autonomy and flexibility in heating their homes. In addition, since Kensa started its activities in 2013, approximately 33.300 t of CO2 emissions were saved.
Read more:
Ground Source Heat Pumps for Social Housing Retrofits (kensacontracting.com)
