A heat pump manufacturer has appointed a new top team to oversee growth it says is needed in the industry if Government net zero targets are to be reached
Kensa Group, headquartered in Truro, Cornwall, includes the UK’s only business dedicated to the manufacture of ground source heat pumps and other businesses that deal with associated underground infrastructure.
The firm estimates it has saved over 1 million tonnes of carbon through installation of its underground infrastructure - across social housing, new build and retrofit homes and businesses - since its formation in 1999.
Dr Matthew Trewhella, former managing director of the group’s contracting business, has been appointed group chief executive Officer, following the retirement of Simon Lomax.
James Standley has also been promoted to group chief operating officer, while David Broom will succeed Dr Trewhella as Kensa Contracting MD.
Paul Eveleigh has become managing director of Kensa Heat Pumps while Wouter Thijssen, previous strategy lead at National Grid, has been appointed as managing director of Kensa Utilities.
The restructure comes as the Government targets the installation of 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 2028, as part of its strategy to help reduce carbon emissions and reach carbon net zero by 2050.
A 10-point plan published last October included a £60m programme that will provide funding for pioneering heat pump technologies and support the installation target.
Dr Trewhella said: “The whole heat pump supply chain - including Kensa - will have to expand dramatically in the next three years to the 2025 new build gas boiler ban, and beyond to meet the UK’s 2028 heat pump installation target, to help reduce emissions to net zero.”
“Kensa has been operating since 1999, but has grown considerably over the last few years. We have assembled an incredibly talented and committed team. We are ready, able and all hugely looking forward to the upcoming challenges and opportunities as the pace of decarbonisation quickens.”
Mr Standley added: “Deploying ground source heat pumps at scale is one of the very lowest cost ways to decarbonise our heating systems and each of the three operating companies in the group – Kensa Heat Pumps, Kensa Contracting and Kensa Utilities - will play a key part in demonstrating and delivering this solution as part of our pathway to net zero.
“I am delighted to be able to continue working with the excellent team at Kensa whose phenomenal depth and breadth of skills will be key in the exciting journey ahead.”
Kensa said its heat pumps business had recently broken production records by doubling its output in the past 18 months, and was working towards a further twofold increase in capacity by 2023.
The group has estimated that every ground source heat pump installed is the equivalent of taking a combustion engine car off the road, adding true benefits will not make the impact needed unless they are introduced at scale.
The Kensa Group employs around 150 people and is partly owned by Legal & General Capital.
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