While deep geothermal energy is still relatively untapped in the UK, ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) have been quietly laying the groundwork for a cleaner, low-carbon heating future. And at the center of that shift is Kensa, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers and installers of GSHP systems.

Since the late 1990s, Kensa has been helping homeowners and housing developers cut emissions and heating bills through GSHPs. In recent years, they've taken things a step further with networked heat pumps (NHPs) — a more efficient model where homes share underground infrastructure to capture heat from the ground. These systems are especially useful for compact properties like terraced houses and flats, where individual systems might not be practical.

Kensa’s "Shoebox" heat pump, for example, is small enough to fit in a cupboard but powerful enough to provide both heating and hot water. It’s a big innovation for homes with limited space — and it’s already in use across the country.

One of Kensa’s standout projects is the “Heat the Streets” initiative in Cornwall. Here, they retrofitted a street with networked heat pump infrastructure, allowing nearly 100 homes to connect without paying anything upfront. Instead, residents pay a low monthly fee, similar to a standing gas charge. The results? Lower energy bills and over 70% carbon savings.

A big hurdle for most homeowners remains the upfront cost of installation. To tackle this, Kensa has developed financing options where the underground network is paid for by a third party — such as a pension fund — and residents just cover the heat pump itself (which is eligible for government subsidies). This model helps make green heating more accessible, especially for households that can't afford a large initial investment.

Beyond individual homes, Kensa is working with local authorities, housing associations, and major developers to scale up their systems. Partnerships with companies like GTC and Sureserve mean that thousands of new builds and social housing units will benefit from GSHPs over the coming years.

Policy is also playing a key role. The upcoming Future Homes Standard, set to kick in by 2028, will require all new homes to be fitted with heat pumps — a move expected to triple demand. Meanwhile, Kensa is hoping the government’s Warm Homes Plan will prioritize low-carbon heating systems, particularly for the UK’s 2.4 million electrically heated homes — many of which are in fuel poverty.

Looking internationally, countries like France and the U.S. are embracing geothermal strategies at scale, providing the UK with useful models. The Department of Energy in the U.S., for instance, has identified large-scale savings from widespread NHP deployment, highlighting the benefits Kensa is already starting to deliver.

With increased investment — including a £70 million boost from Legal & General and Octopus Energy — Kensa is ramping up its manufacturing capacity to over 23,000 GSHPs annually. By 2050, projections suggest around 3.8 million homes in the UK could be heated with ground source systems.

All signs point to GSHPs becoming a cornerstone of the UK’s geothermal future. And with companies like Kensa leading the charge, it’s not just a vision — it’s already happening, one street at a time.