Roadmap to deploy GSHP in large-scale new commercial developments
We’re on the cusp of a culture shift: where business-as-usual in construction no longer exists, and we move to a new paradigm for sources of energy - and energy systems - to power our world.
Amongst the challenges facing climate policy in the UK, heat decarbonisation is a key priority.
The Government’s official advisors, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), say that 19 million heat pumps need to be installed by 2050.
It is clear that installing heat pumps is essential to the immediate reduction of carbon emissions from heating and to meeting the net zero emissions target by 2050; efforts to carry this out must begin right away.
In the mission for reliable, secure, efficient and clean energy, ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are a cornerstone.
Read on for GEL’s roadmap to achieve this goal and deploy ground source heat pumps in new commercial developments.
Commercial ground source heat pumps: the challenge we face today
“I believe that what we do over the next five years will determine the future of humanity for the next millennium." Sir David King
Despite representing the most cost effective and environmentally friendly form of any heating and cooling system available today, heat pump deployment in the UK remains relatively low in comparison to Europe - in 2022, France sold over eleven times as many heat pumps as the UK.
Fossil fuel heating systems are therefore still used in the majority of UK buildings, contributing to the climate crisis whilst low carbon solutions wait in the wings.
Pervasive ‘greenwashing’ from both industry and policy makers has encouraged the misdirection of our efforts to seriously tackle the climate crisis, and the victim has often been renewable energy solutions, the investment in infrastructure to enable them to have an impact - and ultimately the UK’s energy consumers and their environment.
The facts about ground source heat pumps’ efficacy at scale continue to often be refuted and the conversation confused by misinformation and misunderstandings.
GSHPs can, for example, be used effectively in a wide range of various building types, including residential, commercial, and industrial.
They’re also the most efficient: for every unit of energy inputted to run the heat pump itself, around four units are generated. This represents a seasonal coefficient of performance (sCOP) of around 4, or means they are around 400% efficient.
For comparison, a traditional condensing gas boiler is around 85% efficient or has a COP of around 0.85 if properly maintained.
According to Element Energy’s low carbon heat study of 2023 Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) seasonal COP in the UK is approximately only 2.0 - 2.2 .
Energy and climate efficient heating and cooling is not just nice to have - it is an urgent need: in fact, it will become law next year.
In 2025, compliance with the Future Homes Standard (FHS) will become mandatory. Its aim is to ensure that new homes built from 2025 will produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than homes built under the current Building Regulations.
As countries across Europe seek to decarbonise district heating networks, GSHPs have become a cornerstone of the European Commission’s solution - and we believe should also be the UK’s.
The Opportunities Commercial Ground Source Heat Pumps Present
Thinking bigger: GSHPs at scale
The development of infrastructure for GSHPs should be seen as a long-term investment, similar to that of the gas network currently.
If they were utilised in this innovative way, consumers could be charged a standing fee, like their current gas equivalent, to see the development of this infrastructure at the time of construction.
This would be particularly competitive on large developments where the economies of scale can be utilised and would also allow the option of free cooling in the summer to consumers.
The UK has proof of this concept in action.
Over a two-year project with Kensa Contracting, Genius Energy Lab installed ground source heat pump technology in new and existing homes across Cornwall and connected the ground source heating systems to ‘Shared Ground Loop Arrays’, a communal network of underground pipework that extracts renewable heat via boreholes.
Now they’ve been installed, the boreholes are visually unobtrusive, providing a reliable heat source all year-round.
This was a world-first demonstration of a scaleable, street-by-street and affordable heat pump solution - and saw a 82% carbon reduction, much above any other solution’s carbon savings.
2. GSHP for ESG: commercial compliance and hitting sustainability standards
A greater necessity for large-scale commercial facilities to address the source of their energy - and resultant carbon emissions - is coming.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting mandates have grown by 74% in the last four years and are now becoming government-mandated here in the UK.
The UK Sustainability Disclosure Standards (UK SDS) will require corporate disclosures on sustainability related risks and opportunities and is designed to centralise the UK’s new enhanced climate, sustainability, and ESG reporting, disclosure, and communications requirements. The US SDS are anticipated to be in place in July 2024.
Using a renewable energy source like ground source heat pumps, supports commercial leads demonstrate their commitment to sustainable practices to stakeholders - and end users.
In fact, green certifications are becoming industry norms - and goals.
Achieving a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) ‘excellent’, for example, is often a commercial priority at the commencement of new construction projects.
3. Commercial GSHP: Saving on costs, maximising effectiveness
The bottom line is that compared to conventional heating or cooling systems, a ground source heat pump can deliver savings of up to 70% (20% – 70%) on heating bills, and up to 50% (20% – 50%) when it comes to air conditioning.
In short, GSHP offers commercial wins high energy efficiency and environment compliance, lower operating costs, long lifespan, and the ability to provide both heating and cooling.
So, how do you set off on a commercial GSHP journey?
Getting started: the roadmap to GSHP in large-scale commercial projects
Over two decades in the sector has made the path to successful ground source heat pump projects clear to us. In fact, we created an On-Site Guide to help commercial leads, consultants and architects on board the technology.
In it, we suggest the following steps.
Engage with stakeholders
GSHP is the most efficient and cost effective heating and cooling solution available. But it’s a new technology to many. Education around key principles - as outlined in this article - is a must.
Your first step is to take the time to help stakeholders buy into GSHP - it’s an investment in an asset that will pay back in so many ways, but it could be a learning curve for some to see that vision.
Onboard a GSHP Consultancy
Following the premise of the MacLeamy Curve, costs are easiest to control early on in a project. Once a project is under construction, changes become exponentially more expensive than in the design stage.
Having an expert ground source heat pump system designer on hand early in a project is an effective risk mitigation strategy, especially critical to large-scale projects.
The sooner design engineers and consultants are involved in a project, the more they can facilitate ground source heat pumps being utilised to their optimal capacity - with the knock-on effects being significant cost savings and risk management and improved project outcomes.
GEL, for example, can be involved from the start of the project, providing a 360 degree service to deliver the heating and cooling solution: including concept, feasibility, design, implementation oversight, and witnessing on the projects.
Align phases and timelines
The project phases of a GSHP project have been defined by RIBA and from feasibility, to design and installation, you can expect a timeline to approximate the following:
The initial planning and feasibility phase will include:
Site assessment for GSHP suitability and system type
Open or closed loop
Cascaded systems, shared array for example
Geothermal potential and geological surveys
Cost-benefit analysis and ROI projections
Regulatory and zoning considerations
Engineering considerations then come into play, according the the project and scope:
Possible integration with existing building HVAC systems
Ground source heat pump systems can also be easily integrated with existing renewable technologies such as hydro, Solar PV and wind turbines, allowing business owners to direct any surplus heat into new business opportunities.
Customisation of ground source heat pump design for specific building requirements or goals
Energy load calculations and system sizing
GEL works with clients across the UK to design and manage their large-scale commercial ground source heat pump projects.
From feasibility reports, to providing concise and detailed design reports for projects - including exact borehole location, depth, drilling methodology and advice, header arrangement, heat pump selection, plant room considerations and distribution system requirements, Genius Energy Lab delivers a consultancy service that gets commercial ground source heat pump projects off the ground.
Incorporating GSHPs into large-scale commercial projects not only benefits developers and homeowners economically, but also contributes to a greener and more sustainable future for the UK construction industry.
For more information on how you can bring GSHP technology to your construction project, reach out to our team.