Aquifer Power
 

Shenstone sits above the UK's second most significant aquifer - the Sandstone aquifer - offering an opportunity to harness the natural heat of the water through an ambient open-loop or '5th generation' heating system.

 

An ambient loop is a low-temperature heating system that connects multiple buildings by a shared pipe network.  By pumping water around the system at much lower temperatures than traditional heat networks, ambient loops minimise heat loss and maximise efficiency, which makes them ideal for use with heat pumps in the home.

 

The illustration below explains how it would work:
 

1. The natural groundwater is extracted via a borehole and pumped up to a heat exchanger to extract the heat.
    

2. The heat is then distributed around the loop at a moderate temperature (around 10 degrees) via insulated pipes. 
    

3. Each building is connected to the shared ambient loop with its own dedicated pipe system.
    

4. A heat pump is installed in each property, which draws heat from the ambient water in the loop and raises the heat to the desired temperature for heating and hot water.
    

The heating system inside the property is then controlled and managed by the occupier, and the used water is returned back into aquifer via a second borehole further upstream, completing the ‘loop’ of water.