Where next for ground source heat pump technology?

Ground source heat pumps have evolved from a niche technology to a key pillar of the UK’s net-zero strategy. Tamsin Lishman, CEO of Kensa, explores the potential of ground source heat pumps as the company celebrates 25 years in the market. 

With growing public interest, ambitious decarbonisation goals and a desire for more efficient heating systems, ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are primed for rapid expansion – especially as a way to decarbonise UK heat at scale. 

Heat pump adoption is steadily rising, yet the UK still lags behind its ambitious targets. In 2024, just under 100,000 heat pumps were installed in the UK. This is a great sign of progress and should rightly be celebrated, but the reality is we’re still far short of the government’s 600,000-per-year target by 2028. Achieving this goal requires the right policies to enable mass deployment of solutions like networked GSHPs – a model specifically designed to tackle the decarbonising challenge at scale. 

The networked heat pump model, which Kensa has been installing for well over a decade, connects multiple properties with their own ground source heat pump to a shared network of boreholes, dramatically reducing the cost of installation per home. By leveraging this approach, GSHPs become a viable, scalable solution for entire streets, high-rise apartment blocks and newbuild developments. Crucially, this model can help minimise upfront costs, reduce strain on the electricity grid thanks to the system’s high energy efficiency, and future-proof homes by securing a heat source for more than 100 years. 

Social Housing 

Social housing providers have been pioneers in adopting networked heat pumps. We’ve worked with numerous local authorities and housing associations to install thousands of GSHPs, demonstrating the system’s reliability and affordability. The Shoebox heat pump, designed specifically for compact urban spaces, has been at the heart of many of these projects. 

Recent flagship projects include: 

• Thurrock Council: A large-scale networked heat pump installation for 273 flats across three tower blocks, significantly reducing tenants’ energy bills. 

• Clarion Housing Group: Upgrading 81 Edwardian-era flats in central London with networked heat pumps, proving it can decarbonise old building types. 

Government initiatives such as the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (formerly the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund) are vital in enabling this transition. The funding being awarded later this year will help thousands more transition to clean heat, helping grow the sector, but it’s essential there is long-term funding certainty to ensure greater adoption across the sector beyond this next wave. 

Newbuild developments 

When implemented the Future Homes Standard will transform the heat pump sector, effectively tripling the size of the market overnight, making it one of the most important policies for future heat pump deployment. As the Standard phases out new gas boilers, housebuilders will need to find cost-effective alternatives that comply with the regulations. Networked heat pumps offer a tried and tested solution for this sector, which cost the same as gas when installed at scale, put no additional strain on the gas grid, and meet regulatory requirements. 

Networked heat pumps are already proving successful for housebuilders. For example, a 133-home project in Bristol, completed in 2023, saw the installation of networked heat pumps, giving each new home a low-carbon heating system that won’t need replacing in the coming years. 

Kensa’s partnership with utility provider GTC ensures networked heat pumps can be installed in new developments without no increase in costs for developers compared to gas. This is achieved because of the system’s high efficiencies, meaning there’s no need for additional grid upgrades – avoiding a potential headache for developers switching to electrified heating. Integrating this system for new developments helps housebuilders meet the Future Homes Standard before it comes in and, crucially, helps homeowners avoid the cost of ripping out their gas system in the future.  

Opportunities for the future 

While momentum is growing, key barriers remain including upfront costs, policy uncertainty, and awareness of how effective GSHPs are. However, with government support, industry collaboration, and continued innovation, it will play a crucial role in decarbonising heat.  

kensa.co.uk