GeoDrilling 2008 with Geothermal Live! at Peterborough
May 2008
A burgeoning GeoDrilling 2008 Exhibition and Seminar that incorporates the two day Geothermal Live! conference at Peterborough takes place on 30 April and 1st May. The UK GSHP Association will also be holding its AGM at this event together with an evening dinner.
REA, DCLG and DBERR to hold meeting on UK GSHP policy
May 2008
The Renewable Energy Association is organising a meeting on 16th. May at the BERR Conference Centre in London together with DBERR and DCLG to discuss forthcoming policy on the development of GSHP technology in the UK. A similar meeting will be held in the afternoon on solar heating. Register here
ENER-G acquires Ground Source Solutions
April 2008
Manchester based ENER-G has acquired an 80% stake in Nottinghamshire based Ground Source Solutions - an established installer of GSHP systems throughout the UK. This is the most recent purchase in a set of acquisitions by ENER-G to expand its sustainable energy business.
Thermogeology textbook published
April 2008
WileyBlackwell have just released a new textbook by David Banks, titled An Introduction to Thermogeology. Now available through bookstores - including Amazon for the princely sum of approx £70.00.
Danfoss acquires EcoHeatPumps
April 2008
Danfoss announced that it has acquired a majority interest in Sheffield based EcoHeatPumps. This follows the acquisition in the last few years of several European heat pump manufacturers and a move into the UK GSHP installation market.
Scottish and Southern to invest in Geothermal International
April 2008
The utility Scottish and Southern Energy plc has announced that it is to take a 20% stake in the GSHP installer Geothermal International Ltd based in Coventry. It is reported that the utility will invest up to £15 million in the company on a phased basis over the next six months. More here...
Civils to hold seminar on energy piles
March 2008
The Institution of Civil Engineers will be holding a free evening seminar on "Energy piles - a developing technology" on 21st April at the Institution. This will cover the specific aspect of using piles in building foundations as a source for heating and cooling. Register Online: at www.ice.org.uk/energy_gshp
Non domestic buildings to be "carbon free" by 2020
February 2008
According to the Independent on Sunday the Housing Minister will announce at EcoBuild this week that by 2020 all new non-domestic buildings in the UK will have to be carbon free. This is in addition to the requirement that all new domestic buildings will be carbon free by 2016. A very tough challenge - and one that GSHPs can play a significant role in.
GSHP book hits Earthscan's top 10 list
February 2008
Earthscan's English translation of Karl Ochsner's book on Geothermal Heat Pumps has found its way into their top 10 best seller list - after Al Gore's book. Not sure that Earthscan sales quite match Amazon's !
Professional Engineer and Hot Rocks
February 2008
The February edition of the IMecHE house magazine Professional Engineering carries the article "Geothermal energy could be on the brink of widespread use in the UK for heating homes".
CIBSE meeting on GSHP
February 2008
CIBSE is holding a one day seminar - Ground Coupled Energy Systems on Monday 25th February. Originally scheduled to be held at CIBSE HQ Balham, the high demand has seen the venue moved to the Keyworth Centre at London South Bank University.
CORGI publishes GSHP guide
February 2008
CORGI has just published an installation guide for installers of domestic Ground Source Heat Pumps. Available to order online from the CORGI bookshop for £20.
BERR Heat Call for Evidence
January 2008
The Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform is calling for evidence on how to reduce the carbon impact that arises from space and hot water heating. This recognises the very large amounts of carbon that arise from heat generation and mirrors activity in Europe where the EU Commission is taking a harder look on how to deliver renewable heating and cooling. Responses to the DBERR call are required by 31st March. GSHPs have a significant role to play here.
European programme to investigate Heat Pump uptake
January 2008
ProHeatPump is an Intelligent Energy Europe project with the main objective to "promote information and success stories about Ground Source Heat Pumps". Most of the site talks about heat pumps in general - but the intorductory page specifically refers to GSHPs. The UK partner is the Institute for the Study of Science, Technology and Innovation (ISSTI), at the University of Edinburgh. We look forward to seeing the deliverables from this project.
GeoDrilling 2008 to feature Geothermal Live
January 2008
The annual GeoDrilling exhibition and conference will be held at Peterborough this year on 30 April - 1st May. It will incorporate a two day seminar on GSHP technology, supported by the UK GSHPA who will also hold their AGM and a social event during the show. GSHP equipment suppliers will be encouraged to exhibit at the show - which will also feature a wide range of drilling and associated equipment.
Piling and Foundations Conference to include GSHP session
January 2008
The growing interest in the specialist application of GSHPs using piles and other foundation structures is reflected in a dedicated session at the forthcoming Piling and Foundations Conference. Earls Court Conference Centre, London, 14-15th February. GSHP session will be on 14th. Register here....
BRE to run another half day briefing on heat pumps
January 2008
The Building Research Establishment is running a repeat set of briefings on Low Carbon Technologies for Buildings. The half day session on heat pumps will be held on 13 February 2008 at BRE Watford. Booking information here...
Eco-home of Maserati driving pertrol head
January 2008
The Sunday Times of 20 January carried a five page Eco-Special. One article describes the refurbishment of a large property in Oxfordshire using ground source, and air source heat pumps, a wind turbine, and rainwater harvesting. As a refurbishment of an older property, the application of the ground source heat pump had to be approached with care. More details here....
Fuel poverty still prevalent
January 2008
A report from EnergyWatch suggests that it is a losing battle trying to combat fuel poverty in the UK. The upward march of fossil fuel prices means that despite the government's WarmFront programme - there are still large numbers of UK households having to spend over 10% of their income on energy. GSHPs are one of the interesting ways of attacking this problem - particularly in the areas off the gas grid.
Telegraph carries GSHP article
January 2008
The Daily Telegraph of 12 January carries an article on domestic ground source heat pumps. Eco homes: But will it cost the earth describes the installation of a trench based GSHP in a house in Folkingham, Lincolnshire
Building Magazine - features Heat Pumps
January 2008
The January issue of Building Magazine carries a comprehensive article on heat pumps including ground source, by Simon Rawlinson of Davis Langdon. Article available here...