Kensa and GTC announce major partnership to deliver renewable heating to thousands of new build homes

• Largest ever UK agreement between a utility infrastructure provider and ground source heat pump manufacturer and solutions provider

• Kensa and GTC partnership will have scope to deliver a Networked Ground Source Heat Pump solution to tens of thousands of new build homes a year

• Will help developers and housebuilders transition to clean and cost-effective heating and cooling, who must stop new gas connections under Future Homes Standards, without the need for additional electricity grid capacity

• Brings to market a complete end-to-end heating, hot water, and cooling solution for housebuilders

• Ground source heat pumps are up to five times more efficient than gas and use very little space in the house, with no need for an outside unit

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 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.

Kensa Group CEO, Tamsin Lishman said:

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.

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.

Legal & General Capital Managing Director – Clean Energy Strategy & Investments, John Bromley, said: 

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.

Key information:

• GTC’s investment in the system means the cost to developers will usually be significantly lower than installing individual air source heat pumps. Homeowners will also benefit from hassle-free heating and hot water, with costs no higher than if they owned an air source heat pump.
• Kensa is the UK’s largest provider of networked ground source heat pumps, with a multi-award-winning track record of delivering renewable heating and hot water to a mix of retrofit and new-build projects.
• The constant ground temperature throughout the year, with no seasonal fluctuations, means higher efficiency and lower running costs for customers connected to networked ground source heat pumps. The latest Passiv Smart Thermostat can be included, reducing customers’ heating bills by up to 30%.
• There is also the option to add passive cooling to each home, a capability unique to ground-source heat pumps. With minimal running costs, this can mitigate overheating in summer and provide Part O compliance.
• Due to the high efficiencies of networked ground source heat pumps, no additional electricity demand required, making it a great solution for sites already ‘in build’ and moving from gas.
• The Networked Ground Source Heat Pump solution will be Heat Trust registered and be regulated by Ofgem to ensure homeowners worry-free maintenance, repair, and replacement of the ground source heat pump system.
• New homes connected to the solution will be fitted with either Kensa’s Shoebox or Shoebox NX ground source heat pumps, providing each property with low-cost, low-carbon heating and hot water, with the capability to deliver passive cooling.

About GTC

Established in 1995, GTC is the UK’s largest independent provider of multi-utility networks and infrastructure to the new-build market.

GTC designs, installs, adopts, owns, and operates network infrastructure for all utilities – heat, electricity, gigabit-capable fibre broadband, water, wastewater, and gas – across England, Scotland, and Wales.

GTC is part of the BUUK Infrastructure Group, which employs more than 2,000 people and operates networks serving around 2 million UK homes.

Visit www.gtc-uk.co.uk

About Kensa

Established in 1999 and headquartered in Truro, Cornwall, the Kensa Group is a fast-growing collection of award-winning British businesses involved in the manufacture and installation of ground source heat pumps and the ownership of associated underground infrastructure.

The Kensa Group is the leading UK-based manufacturer of ground source heat pumps, with its products accounting for more than half of all UK ground source heat pump installations.

The Kensa Group is partly owned by Legal & General Capital, part of Legal & General PLC, and Octopus Energy. Backed by its investors, Kensa is partnering with cities, developers, housebuilders, social housing providers, and installers to create an affordable, low-carbon future.

Visit www.thekensagroup.com