The success of a recent renewable heating upgrade project in Cornwall has received acknowledgement for manufacturer Kensa Heat Pumps and Coastline Housing. The ground source heat pumps installation, which delivered the county’s first micro ground source heat network, reducing the annual energy bill for 12 homes by 50% and CO2 emissions by 65%, has been named ‘Best Renewable Energy Scheme of the Year’ at the Regen SW Green Energy Awards.
Simon Lomax, MD of Kensa Heat Pumps comments: “We are pleased to receive further recognition for our innovative heating solution which dramatically reduces the running costs and carbon emissions at social properties. This particular project enabled Coastline customers to benefit from a warmer, more comfortable home and a far lower heating bill compared to their less efficient night storage heating. Better still, Coastline received generous subsidy support which covered their entire installation cost and are now embarking on further projects.”
The micro ground source heat network system pioneered by Kensa features an individual ground source heat pump in each property linked to communal borehole pipework. The pipes absorb heat from the ground and transfer this into a heat pump which then upgrades this heat from the ground to deliver heating and hot water to the home. The district approach also secured upfront Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding to Coastline via Kensa’s partnership with EDF Energy, and an ongoing income stream via the Government’s Non Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which will generate 20 years of quarterly payments to Coastline for the renewable energy produced by the ground source heat pumps; the extra income will allow Coastline to fully recover their installation costs and invest in further property improvement measures.
Allister Young, Chief Executive at Coastline Housing says: “We are pleased to have worked with Cornish partner Kensa on this award-winning scheme. This new approach to district heating has removed previous barriers created by the need for shared equipment and shared billing. Our customers benefit from complete heating independence and a significant reduction in their heating costs, which in turn reduces pressure on often limited household budgets.”
The picture shows local residents with representatives from Kensa and Coastline Housing.
