1. What experience does Pennine have in the geothermal drilling market?
A. Pennine has over 18 years experience in the drilling industry, and have drilled thousands of metres of geothermal boreholes for all sorts of applications including schools, hospitals, social and residential housing.
We have recently invested over £2 million into new machinery to improve our service, making drilling faster, more efficient and more reliable.
2. How is the full geothermal borehole installation installed?
A. We start by drilling the hole; depending on the depth of the hole and the ground conditions this takes about five hours. Then we will install the ground loop, this means putting a weight on the 'U' bend and feeding it down into the borehole to the depth required. After this has been completed we back fill the borehole with thermally enhanced bentonite grout to ensure maximum conductivity of heat between the ground and the liquid in the pipe. This can all be done in one day.
3. How long does it take to install a geothermal borehole?
A. Installation times vary dependant on the type of ground that needs drilling into and the depth of the borehole, however with our modern fleet of drilling rigs we aim to install one borehole in one day, in any conditions. The full installation including the ground source heat pump could take two days.
4. How long will a geothermal borehole last?
A. A geothermal borehole installation can last over 100 years as the material used to make the loop is designed not to react with the ground and can last for a long time.
5. How efficient is a ground source heat pump system?
A. Ground source heat pumps are very efficient. For every kilowatt of electricity they use they can produce about 4 kilowatts of heat energy. However this is very dependent on the insulation of the building the heat pump is in, and also assuming that the right sized heat pump has been installed. If the insulation is poor the efficiency can drop significantly.
6. How big are ground source heat pump units?
A. A typical heat pump unit for a domestic dwelling is about the same size as a large fridge. However this can vary depending on the heat output you require from it.
7. Can it supply hot water for the house?
A. Yes. A ground source heat pump is capable of supplying hot water for all household needs; however this will mean that you will need a bigger heat pump to cope with the extra demand.
8. Can the systems provide cooling?
A. Yes it is possible to provide cooling from a ground source heat pump.
9. I am currently designing a new house which will be extremely well insulated. Would a ground source heat pump system be worth considering and is it straightforward to install?
A. Yes, absolutely. Almost all new houses in the UK designed to meet or exceed the 2006 Building Regulations should be able to install a ground source heat pump system. These mandatory regulations have been designed to conserve fuel, reduce heat losses and ensure greater energy efficiency, and so will ensure that all modern properties need less heating. Your plumber can connect the heat pump unit to your heating system and your builder can dig the trenches either before or whilst the footings and other ground works are being done.
10. My architect suggests I install underfloor heating in my new house. Is this OK?
A. Yes. Ground source heat pump systems are ideally matched to modern low temperature underfloor heating.
11. I have an older style property. Can I still fit a GSHP system?
A. Yes. This is possible, however the building will need to be well insulated as the efficiency of the heat pump is directly related to the level of insulation in the building it is heating. If the building is not well insulated, the heat pump will need to be turned on longer, using more electricity.
12. Can radiators be used inside my house instead of underfloor heating?
A. Yes. Radiators can be used with a ground source heat pump to heat your house, however the radiators may need to be oversized, as they would be running at a lower temperature than other heating systems, so would need more surface area to make them efficient. It is also possible to use a mix of underfloor heating and radiators with a ground source heat pump.
13. Could I install the heat pump outside, in my garage or basement?
A. Yes. There is generally no problem in doing so and it normally means the pump is nearer to the pipe connections on your ground loops, which often makes the whole system easier to connect. Some homeowners have built a small, well-insulated, external enclosure for the pump unit.
14. Are GSHP systems really environmentally friendly?
A. Yes. Although a ground source heat pump is not 'carbon neutral', it can still reduce your carbon footprint significantly when compared to other heating systems.
It is possible to make your ground source heat pump system carbon neutral by buying green energy from your electricity company, or by installing other renewable technologies to produce the electricity needed to run it.
15. Are Ground Source Heat Pumps dangerous? What about servicing and maintenance?
A. There are no hazardous gas emissions, flammable oil, LPG or gas pipes, no flue or chimney and no unsightly fuel tanks. GSHP systems have absolutely NO site emissions. There is no need for regular servicing or annual safety checks and maintenance is very low.
16. How do running costs compare with conventional alternatives?
A. It depends on what you are comparing it to. In a modern, well insulated building a ground source heat pump can run at a third of the cost of an electric heating system, half the cost of LPG and significantly less than an oil filled boiler.
17. Are these systems expensive?
A. The initial purchase costs of a ground source heat pump system will be quite a lot more than a conventional oil or gas fired boiler. The initial one-off expense is offset by the lower running costs, lower maintenance and low servicing requirement. There is also the security of knowing that the majority of your heating and cooling energy comes out of your ground, is under your control, and will not increase in price. Also a ground source heat pump can last over twice the age of a conventional boiler.
There are also grants available from the government to anyone installing a ground source heat pump to help with the high cost.
18. I want to install a GSHP but access to my house is limited - can I still do this?
A. We have a range of powerful limited access drilling rigs that are capable of fitting through an 800mm access width, meaning we can usually manage to find somewhere to drill.