UK’s largest ground source heat pump factory unveiled

The UK’s largest production facility dedicated to ground source heat pumps has been officially opened at Mount Wellington Mine in Truro, Cornwall, following a major investment by Kensa Group and Legal & General Capital (LGC).

The factory has the capacity to manufacture 30,000 ground source heat pumps every year.

Kensa’s own heat pumps provide the factory and offices with underfloor heating, hot water and cooling by exchanging heat with water from a flooded mine shaft on the historic site.

In the 24 months since LGC became shareholders, the manufacturer has broken records by doubling the amount of ground source heat pumps made at the facility, with a plan in place to increase output rapidly by a further 50% to meet demand.

Kensa has also secured new engineering talent to support its product development. Recent innovations include – The KensaQ – a new commercial range capable of high heat loads, and a highly flexible storage heat pump which can be run when electricity is at its cheapest and the heat stored for use later when it is needed.

Dr Matt Trewhella, CEO of The Kensa Group, said: “Heat pumps are key to the low carbon economy, but the whole heat pump supply chain, including Kensa, will have to expand dramatically to meet the UK’s 2028 heat pump installation target.

“The investment from Legal & General Capital has allowed us to significantly step up our efforts in areas such as R&D and operations, as we continue to prepare for further rapid growth.”