Want to find out more?

If are interested in learning more about our Geothermal Heat Network solutions, or if you have a specific project that you would like a free, no obligation, quote for then please reach out to us at enquiries@rendesco.com.

In addition, we invite you to attend our weekly seminar, where you can learn more about our solution and ask any questions you may have. The seminar is held at 10am every Tuesday.

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Introduction

The housing industry currently faces various challenges, one of which is the pressing need to reduce carbon emissions. This is legislated for by the recent uplift to Part L of BuildingRegulations and the forthcoming Future Homes Standard, which require reductions in carbon emissions from heating and hot water production. As a result, many developers have turned to heat pumps as an alternative to mains gas, but have encountered significant issues such as high upfront costs, noisy and unsightly plant, and inefficient heat pumps leading to high running costs for residents.

In this article, we introduce our funded Geothermal Heat Networks as a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to mains gas for new build developments. Less costly than air source heat pumps, these networks offer numerous benefits to both developers and residents.

With our team of experts, there’s no additional complexity to joining the energy revolution.

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What is a Geothermal Heat Network?

Geothermal Heat Networks utilise a series of vertical boreholes, typically drilled to a depth of200m-300m, in combination with ground source heat pumps, to provide sufficient space heating and domestic hot water for dwellings. Energy from beneath our feet is distributed through a network of pipes to individual dwellings. This geothermal energy can either: take the form of ambient temperature heat for local ground source heat pumps in each property, or, be exchanged centrally into usable heating and hot water and supplied via heat interface units in each property.

This approach is a substantial heating upgrade to using air source heat pumps.

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What are the key benefits of Geothermal Heat Networks?

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Cheaper upfront cost for developers than air source heat pumps

One of the main advantages of our solution is the lower upfront cost for developers compared to air source heat pumps. With funded Geothermal Heat Networks, the network infrastructure is owned and operated by our utility partner Last Mile, which means that the upfront cost of the system comes down dramatically. This makes it a more cost-effective solution for developers who are looking to upgrade their heating without incurring higher upfront costs.

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Significantly cheaper to run for residents than air source heat pumps

In addition to the lower upfront cost, our solution is significantly cheaper to run for residents compared to air source heat pumps. This is because Geothermal Heat Networks are much more efficient than air source heat pumps as the geothermal heating source is much warmer than the air temperature during the heating season. We can also take advantage of cheaper off-peak electricity prices and pass these savings on to residents. As a result, residents enjoy lower energy bills, making it a more attractive solution where ongoing energy costs are a particular concern.

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Performs better in SAP

Another advantage of our solution is that it performs better in SAP (the Standard AssessmentProcedure) than air source heat pumps. This is because the Geothermal Heat Network operates much more efficiently and uses less primary energy, making compliance with Part Land the Futures Homes Standards much easier for developers.

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No external plant, no noise or vibration problems

Unlike air source heat pumps, which require external units that can be noisy and create vibration problems, our solution has no external plant. This means that it does not create noise or vibration problems for residents, making it a more attractive solution for those who are looking for a quiet and peaceful environment.

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Increased usability of external spaces and gardens

Air source heat pumps are typically located in gardens or side returns, which can be anaesthetic problem for developers and create problems for residents using these spaces. Air source heat pumps produce significant volumes of cold air during operation, which can make garden spaces cold and uncomfortable to use, potentially devaluing the property. Conversely,Geothermal Heat Networks have no external plant within the residents’ plot.

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Increased internal space

An air source heat pump requires space inside the property for hot water cylinders, controls and associated equipment. Our Geothermal Heat Networks only require a Heat Interface Unit(smaller than a gas boiler), which frees up internal space.

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Significantly lower carbon emissions than air source heat pumps

Geothermal Heat Networks achieve significantly lower carbon emissions than air source heat pumps because they generate heat much more efficiently. With consumers increasingly conscious of climate change and carbon emissions, using a solution with a lower carbon footprint adds value to properties.

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Lower peak electrical usage

Finally, with our Geothermal Heat Networks, we are able to control the electrical usage of the heat pumps to reduce the peak electrical requirements. This means that our solution reduces the size requirements of a sites grid connection, which saves significant costs for expensive capacity upgrades or enables an increased number of plots where a site was previously limited by its electrical capacity.

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Next steps

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In addition, we invite you to attend our weekly seminar, where you can learn more about our solution and ask any questions you may have. The seminar is held at 10am every Tuesday.

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