GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS
Ground source heat pumps utilise solar energy naturally stored in soil, bedrock and groundwater as a heat source. They require electricity to operate, but will produce up to five times as much heat energy for every unit of electricity they use.
Through using a loop that is installed underground, ground source pumps transfer heat from the ground into a property or commercial building to provide heating or preheat water. The efficiency of the system is gauged by the ratio of units of heat output for each unit of electricity used to power the ground source heat pump.
A typical system will produce 3-4 units of heat in comparison to the 1 unit used for electricity, making it an extremely effective way of heating a property or commercial building.
There are a variety of ground source heat pumps available to suit the heating requirements of any building, whether it’s an existing structure or a new build. Additionally, they can be installed almost anywhere, provided there is sufficient space to lay the ground loops or drill a borehole. So whether you’re interested in solar panels in Coventry, solar panels Exeter or anywhere else in the UK, we can help.
Though every installation we carry out is different we would advise you to consider the following:
- You will need enough area space outside your property for the ground loop to be installed.
- A trench or borehole will need to be dug therefore the ground needs to be suitable
- If you currently use oil or electricity to heat your property the savings are more substantial compared to gas.
- If ground source heat pumps do not appear to offer you the most efficient method of then one of our other renewable energy systems may i.e. Solar and air source heat pumps
- Is it a new building project? Integrating our renewable energy systems whilst the build is taking place will reduce costs.
Costs and savings
A typical domestic system, which is installed in a well-insulated property costs between £6,000 and £12,000. This may seem like a lot, but once installed it could save you around £1000 a year on your heating bills, the savings will depend on the fuel being replaced.
Installation
- A ground source heat pump can be installed with a horizontal collector, lengths of pipe are buried underground to a depth of around 1 to 2 metres.
- Alternatively, a vertical collector can be used, which requires a borehole of around 50m to 200m and the collector is fed into the hole.
- Electrical and plumbing installation is simple. It requires only a 240V mains supply and simple flow and return connections to internal and external wall circuits.
