01/11/2009   Underground technology could produce a third of UK’s renewable heat needs

An article in the Guardian refers to a recently released report from the Environment Agency that reviews the current status and prospects for GSHPs in the UK.
 
According to the Guardian:
 
About 8,000 ground-source heat pump systems were operating in the UK – far fewer than in other European countries, such as Sweden, although the market was expanding rapidly and doubled last year, the Environment Agency report said.
 
The document concluded that the technology could be installed in 320,000 homes and businesses by 2020 with support from the government. If enough support was given through the Renewable Heat Incentive which will be introduced in 2012 and pay homeowners and businesses a guaranteed price for generating renewable heat, more than 1m ground-source heat pumps systems could be put in place.
 
At the top end of its potential, ground-source heat technology could be installed in more than one in 10 homes and in 40% of commercial buildings, the report said.
 
Even if growth was limited to 320,000 homes and business – 1% of households and 11% of commercial buildings – it could provide 30% of the renewable heat the UK needed to produce to meet its 2020 target.
 
Environment Agency Press Release -  "Underground technology could produce a third of UK’s renewable heat needs" here
 
"Ground source heating and cooling pumps: state of play and future trends" - EA Report available for downloading here 
 


This newsletter is assembled by Robin Curtis who has a vested interest in this technology and currently works for EarthEnergy Limited - a UK promoter of ground source heat pumps. Notwithstanding - this informal newsletter is intended to provide a focus for all UK activity on ground coupled, water source heating and cooling technology for buildings. This is variously referred to as earth coupled systems, geothermal heat pumps, earth energy systems, closed loop ground source heat pumps etc.



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