Kensa
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The UK’s Leading Ground Source Manufacturer: Kensa Heat Pumps Overview
Established in 1999 in Truro, Cornwall, Kensa Heat Pumps holds a distinct position in the UK energy sector as the nation’s only manufacturer focused exclusively on ground source heat pump technology. Rather than adapting imported air-source designs or dividing focus across multiple heating methods, Kensa concentrates entirely on ground-source systems engineered specifically for the UK’s climate, building architecture, and electrical grid infrastructure.
Over more than two decades, the Cornish company has established itself through dedicated UK-centric engineering, producing equipment that ranges from space-saving indoor residential units to large-scale commercial installations. Every system is designed, assembled, and tested in Cornwall, delivering purpose-built, high-efficiency heating tailored directly to British homes and district networks.
Kensa Heat Pump Models & Specifications
Kensa categorises its ground source heat pump range by application scale, offering tailored solutions for every building footprint. The line-up spans from ultra-compact domestic units designed for small utility cupboards to 80kW modular commercial plant room systems, engineered to handle large-scale space heating and hot water demands:
The Kensa Shoebox & Shoebox NX
The Kensa Shoebox series addresses space constraints in modern high-density housing by operating as the smallest and quietest ground source heat pump available. Built specifically for flats, social housing, and compact retrofit projects, the unit features dimensions engineered to allow straightforward installation inside a standard under-sink kitchen cupboard or small utility enclosure.
The core Shoebox range comes in two output options: a 3kW single-compressor model and a 6kW twin-compressor variant. Despite its ultra-compact chassis, the unit achieves a maximum flow temperature of 65°C, making it capable of handling domestic hot water production and radiator heating circuits without supplemental electrical immersion heaters. Further technical data is detailed within the Kensa Shoebox heat pump specifications.
Shoebox NX: The next-generation 5.8kW model incorporates enhanced seasonal efficiency and native passive cooling capabilities, providing low-energy summer cooling while maintaining the exact space-saving footprint of the original series.
Kensa Evo Series (A++ Efficiency)
The Kensa Evo Series serves as the standard choice for medium-to-large residential homes requiring high thermal output and dependable seasonal performance. Engineered specifically to meet domestic property demands, the range includes four distinct single-phase models: 7kW, 9kW, 13kW, and 17kW.
Every model in the line-up carries an ErP A++ energy efficiency rating. The series introduces Kensa’s proprietary Genesis system manager, a dedicated controller featuring real-time Coefficient of Performance (CoP) readouts, intuitive touch-screen diagnostics, and dynamic operational monitoring. This system management setup delivers up to a 15% gain in operational efficiency compared to previous product generations.
Designed for straightforward commissioning by certified heat pump installers, the floor-standing cabinet houses all core hydronic components while maintaining low sound levels suitable for utility room integration.
The Twin Compact: Solving the UK Single-Phase Problem
Most residential properties across the UK are connected to a standard 100A single-phase electrical supply, creating a significant bottleneck when retrofitting high-capacity heat pumps. Kensa addresses this grid infrastructure constraint through the Twin Compact series, which scales up to 30kW and crucially features a 24kW single-phase variant, currently the largest output single-phase ground source heat pump on the market.
Typically, domestic heating demands exceeding 14kW to 16kW force property owners to arrange expensive, time-consuming three-phase power upgrades for heat pumps. The 24kW Twin Compact circumvents this issue by using twin internal compressors that engage in staged sequences.
To safeguard the main supply fuse during compressor startup, the unit incorporates integrated smart soft-start controllers. These modules strictly manage inrush current spikes, enabling larger domestic retrofits, rural estates, and barn conversions to run high-output ground source systems without electrical grid modifications.
Shared Ground Loop Arrays & Networked Heat Pumps
Kensa’s Networked Heat Pump model utilises shared ground loop arrays to deliver low-carbon heating across multi-property developments, social housing retrofits, and new-build housing estates. Under this architecture, multiple independent properties, each equipped with an individual internal heat pump, such as a compact Shoebox unit, connect to a single, communal underground pipe network.
Heat absorption infrastructure varies depending on available site footprint: vertical boreholes are deployed for high-density housing and urban retrofits with limited land area, whereas horizontal slinky trenches offer a cost-effective alternative when substantial outdoor acreage is available. By decentralising individual heat pump units while centralising the ground array, each household retains independent temperature control and direct energy billing while sharing infrastructure installation costs.
