Blog: How can social landlords benefit from the WH:SHF with Kensa
The Warm Homes Social Housing Fund Wave 3 (WH:SHF) previously Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) application window opened on October 2nd 2024 and will close at midday on November 25th 2024. Offering social landlords the chance to upgrade housing stock currently below the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C standard. There is funding available to help deliver warm, energy-efficient homes, reduce carbon emissions, tackle fuel poverty, support green jobs and improve the comfort, health and well-being of social housing tenants.
After the recent rollercoaster of energy price fluctuations has plunged so many more people into fuel poverty, it has never been as important to move social housing residents onto heating systems with the lowest possible running costs. However, to do this with WH:SHF funding, landlords must consider how critical it is to focus on fast and efficient systems delivery due to the timescales involved.
Free feasibility report and quick delivery
For social housing landlords with ambitions to install GSHPs, the team here starts by offering a free feasibility report that can be included within funding applications. Our feasibility reports can include all the required information, from a fabric-first approach to reducing total heat losses to the full deep retrofit of the entire heating system and controls. With full carbon saving and cost analysis provided, we can also issue full high-level programmes, design drawings, and risk analysis for the projects that can be included within a strong funding application.
Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) offer the best solution for heat decarbonisation at scale, especially for tower blocks of flats and apartments. The technology is eligible for funding, which could cover up to 88% of installation costs. GSHPs are the most efficient and effective way to decarbonise heating. The technology delivers heat with the lowest carbon emissions, running costs, and lifecycle costs, with very limited maintenance costs. We at Kensa can install them within the WH:SHF deadlines, and with our NEW Shoebox NX compact but powerful heat pump, we can achieve up to a 2-point EPC uplift.
(Shoebox nx ground source heat pump – ideal for networked heat pump schemes)
Our unique position as the market-leading authority on Networked Ground Source Heat Pump technology and deployment allows us to quickly produce these free feasibility reports to establish project viability and budget costs for our clients in support of WH:SHF Wave 3 funding bids. Plus, our extensive experience of delivering grant-funded projects, such as we did with Thurrock Council. also allows us to support further the bid writing and submission process for those with big ambitions but limited resources.
The key to delivering a successful WH:SHF application starts with preparation, and with application submission details to be launched in the summer, our advice would be to start any pre-project processes now. By having this ready ahead of the application submission opening, you stand the best chance of a project being successfully awarded funding and take a huge step towards ensuring the installation programme is delivered in line with the funding’s schedule.
(Three Thurrock Council high-rise tower blocks being fitted with low-carbon Kensa ground source heat pumps with finance from the SHDF)
Book a one-to-one feasibility study
In addition to the WH:SHF support, Kensa is also able to provide an additional reduction in capital cost through the innovative Kensa Utilities funded ground array model. Further details on how this can enhance a funding offer and how Kensa is delivering a renewable alternative to the gas supply infrastructure can be found at www.kensautilities.com
Author: Iain Carr, Domestic Director of Sales, Kensa Contracting.
Iain has a wealth of renewables experience in both technology and technical application. A long-standing ambassador of heat pump technology, with experience in supply chain, manufacturing and contracting.
