|
People are not often aware of the huge amount of energy stored in the ground beneath our feet. This energy is stored as heat within the rock mass. Although geothermal energy is often associated with geysers and significant depths, there is a form of low grade heat at shallow depths (up to 100m) that is replenished by the sun and by the radioactive decay within the rocks. Over the last 40 years, the North Americans and many European countries like Sweden, Germany and Austria have been exploiting this low grade heat by “pumping” it from the ground to their residential and commercial buildings. Heat pumps, that are similar to the fridges in our kitchens, are used to pump the heat stored within the ground to our buildings. There are occasions where the pumps are designed to work in reverse mode. In reverse mode, the heat is pumped from the building to the ground, which in this case acts as a heat sink rather than a source of heat. These heat pumps are known as Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) because they use the ground as a source of energy.  
Typical benefits of Ground Source Heat Pumps over more conventional heating/cooling systems are: | Efficiencies of 350%-400%. This is extremely high when compared to conventional gas boiler systems that have efficiencies in the range of 90%-92%. Every unit of energy used to drive the GSHP delivers 4 units of heating/cooling; | | Uses a renewable and sustainable energy source (the ground). Ultimately, this means a more environmentally friendly system; | | Zero visual impact. All the heat exchanging components are buried beneath the ground (i.e. parking spaces, green spaces, etc.); | | Reduced operational costs. The electricity used to drive the heat pumps is the only “fuel” required to drive these systems. Operational costs can be reduced even more if solar panels and wind turbines are used to supply the electricity needed to drive the heat pumps. | | Significantly reduced carbon footprint and supports the sustainability agenda. A carbon neutral system can be achieved if the electricity is supplied by renewable energy; | | Strong regulatory drivers that are accompanied by capital grants. These grants are available to help reduce the capital investment which is often seen as the main barrier to the spreading of Ground Source Heat schemes; | | Reduced boiler room spaces and operational noise. This make these systems ideal for urban areas where space and noise are often critical barriers; | | Reliability and reduced maintenance costs. Experience from other countries has shown that ground source heat pumps are based on a proven and reliable technology. However, it is imperative that the schemes are correctly designed. |
Ground Source Heat has a bright future in the rapidly expanding UK market. However, the design and installation of these schemes requires competent design and engineering solutions, which are fundamental for delivering the intrinsic benefits of this technology. Please contact Antonio Gennarini (01743 276100 / email) for more information on ground source heating and cooling service. |
