Boreholes For New Build Social Housing Flats
This section illustrates the costs of installing Kensa ground source heat pump heating and hot water systems in 100 new-build social housing flats. The scheme features an individual Kensa Shoebox Heat Pump in each flat, connected to a Shared Ground Loop Array of boreholes
We have provided a ground source heat pump design with schematic drawings and ground source heat pump installation costs for both self-financed and funded split ownership shared ground loop array options versus a mains gas boiler alternative.
Example: Finances
Kensa has calculated example costs below to illustrate the upfront finance required for self-financed and funded split ownership Shared Ground Loop Arrays in large housing developments featuring the Kensa Shoebox heat pump.
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Heat Pump System
System architecture | Ambient Shared Ground Loop Arrays |
Total heat pump capacity | 204.66kW |
Equipment type | 100 x 3kW Shoebox |
Design conditions | 0/45°C |
Potable DHW temp | 60°C |
Integral immersion heaters | No (DNO friendly) |
Ground array type | Boreholes |
Total depth of boreholes | 4,107 metres |
*Boreholes based on average ground conductivity. Average 18 sq/m per property – each borehole serves a minimum of 2 properties.
Total Project Costs, Savings & Returns vs. Mains Gas Boiler
| Kensa Ground Source Heat Pumps & Shared Borehole Ground Array | Gas Combi Boiler |
Finance Option | Self-Financed | Funded Split Ownership | Self-Financed |
Lifetime Expectancy: Appliance | Up to 20 years | Up to 20 years | Up to 10 years |
Lifetime Expectancy: Infrastructure | Up to 100 years | Up to 100 years | Up to 100 years |
| | | |
Carbon Saved vs Gas (over 20 years)* | 1,268 TCO² | 1,268 TCO² | - |
Local NOx Emissions Saved vs Gas** | 20.5 kgNOx/y | 20.5 kgNOx/y | - |
| | | |
Appliance, Infrastructure & Project Management Cost *** | £584,973 | £243,134 | £380,000 |
| | | |
Running Cost Savings vs. Gas (over 20 years)**** | £46,912 | £46,912 | - |
Servicing Costs Per Property (over 20 years)***** | £2,000 | £2,000 | £2,000 |
| | | |
RHI Income (over 20 years)****** | £1,024,549 | - | Not eligible |
| | | |
Net cost (after 20 years)******* | £439,576 profit | £243,134 cost | £380,000 cost |
*Carbon saving based on carbon emissions of 0.519kgCO2/kWh for electric and 0.216kgCO2/kWh for gas. Assumes 80% efficiency for gas and 300% efficiency for ground source heat pumps.**NOx emission based on 44mg per kWh based on a worcester greenstar combi. ***Costs are for the design, supply and installation of the ground array and supply only of the ground source heat pump, cylinder, and antifreeze, to be installed by M&E contractor. Tenant network connection fee applies. ****Based on gas at 4.9p a unit and 80% efficiency. *****Ground source heat pumps have no requirement for annual maintenance. However, it is good practice for the heating distribution system to be proactively checked and maintained to ensure optimum performance G3 Cylinder check will be requried. ******The Non-Domestic RHI is a 20 year index linked funding stream which assumes inflation at 3%. *******Net cost does not include servicing and running costs. net cost for gas does not include an additional gas boiler, which will likely need to be factored in during the 20 year comparison period due to a gas boiler’s 10 year average lifetime expectancy.
Please note: The Non-Domestic RHI has now ended. Visit Kensa Heat Pumps to explore current funding options.
Example: Capex
Cumulative Deficit / Surplus Over 20 Year RHI Period

Counterfactual based on mains gas costs
Please note: The Non-Domestic RHI has now ended. Visit Kensa Heat Pumps to explore current funding options.
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Related Content
This Kensa Contracting commissioned animation depicts the key stages for the installation of Kensa Shoebox ground source heat pumps into individual flats in tower blocks, connected to shared ground loop array boreholes. For more information on this application click here. *Please note: the Non-Domestic RHI funding stream mentioned in this video has now expired. Explore…
Download Kensa’s two-page guide to funded Shared Ground Loop Arrays in new build developments, including funded project examples and details of the funding mechanism.