Blog: How can social landlords benefit from the SHDF with Kensa
The second wave of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) is launching this month offering social landlords the chance to upgrade housing stock currently below Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C standard. There is up to £800 million of 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 energy price increases have 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 SHDF funding, landlords must take into account how critical it is to focus on fast and efficient delivery of systems due to the timescales involved.
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 information required, from a fabric first approach to reduce total heat losses, through 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 a solution for heat decarbonisation and the technology is eligible for the 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, lowest running costs and lowest lifecycle cost, with very limited maintenance costs and we at Kensa can install them within the SHDF deadlines.
(Shoebox ground source heat pump, comfortably sitting in an airing cupboard – ideal for district heating schemes)
Our unique position as the market leading authority on shared ground array 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 the support of SHDF Wave 2 funding bids. Plus, our extensive experience of delivering grant funded projects, such as we did with Thurrock Council. also allows us to further support the bid writing and submission process for those with big ambitions but limited resource.
(Three Thurrock Council high-rise tower blocks being fitted with low-carbon Kensa ground source heat pumps with finance from the SHDF)
The key to delivering a successful SHDF application starts with preparation, and with application submission details to be launched in mid-October, 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.
Book a one-to-one feasibility study
In addition to the SHDF 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 are 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.
