Radiation from the sun heats the earths ground. The earth then stores the heat and maintains, just below the surface up to 2m down, a temperature of around 10°C even throughout the winter with temperatures below zero degrees above.
The pipes for a ground source heat pump system are most commonly buried horizontally in a trench, about a metre below ground, providing enough space is available to do this. Alternatively, boreholes can be drilled to extract heat from further down.
The way a ground source heat pump works is by circulating a NON TOXIC Glycol fluid through a ground loop buried. The heat from the ground is absorbed at low temperatures by the liquid which then passes through a heat exchanger in the heat pump.
The technology used is the same as that used in refrigerators. Just as a fridge extracts heat from the food and transfers it into the kitchen, so a ground source heat pump extracts heat from the earth and transfers it into a building.
What are the benefits of a ground source heat pump?
There are many benefits available when utilising an air source heat pump system:
- The cost of running an GSHP is much less than other methods, such as oil, LPG or conventional electric heating;
- The Renewable Heat Incentive scheme (RHI) upto £34,000 could potentially make your installation cost neutral or bridge the gap to install a Heat Pump in comparison to conventional systems;
- GSHPs have a low carbon footprint and will be a major part in the UK reaching Net Zero;
- The energy you generate with an air source heat pump can be used to heat your home and provide hot water;
- No more Fuel deliveries for those off grid needing Oil or LPG
- Fuel savings between 10 to 70% in some instances;
- Coupled with Solar PV even further savings can be achieved.
