British ground source heat pump manufacturer Kensa Heat Pumps has doubled its production over the last 18 months, as demand for the technology continues to grow. The company is now working to increase its capacity twofold by 2023.
“The Government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy makes clear what we have passionately advocated for a long time – that heat pumps are best placed to deliver low carbon heat,” said Kensa Group CEO, Simon Lomax. “There is a particularly welcome focus on ensuring a large proportion are manufactured here in the UK to boost our green economy.”
Its heat pumps are installed in social housing, new build developments, private retrofit homes and businesses. It is also one of a number of companies involved in the Oxford Energy Superhub, with its shoebox heat pumps being installed as part of the multifaceted project.
Since the company was established in 1999, it has grown its market share to over 50% in Britain. This was bolstered in 2020, when Legal & General acquired a 36% share in the ground source heat technology company.
To manage its growth, Kensa has hired over 60 new members of staff in the past year, and is continuing to recruit.
The government announced a target of 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028 within its ten point plan in November 2020. It has further signified support for the technology since, with the Heat and Buildings Strategy – released in October 2021 – unveiling grants of £5,000 for the installation of heat pumps from April 2022 as part of a £450 million scheme to upgrade domestic heating infrastructure.
“All indications are pointing to significantly increased long-term demand and Kensa is scaling up production to meet requirements and fulfil the Government’s ambition to ‘build back greener’,” added Lomax.
However, concerns have been raised about the speed at which the UK is decarbonising its domestic heating sector. A report this month from a Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy select committee found that “urgent changes” are needed for home heat decarbonisation as the government is currently off track to meet its targets.
In particular it flagged the Green Homes Grant scheme, which offered support for the installation of the technology, but shuttered early following a string of administrative issues. The scheme was later described as “a slam dunk fail” by the Public Accounts Committee.
