The Chipping Community Energy Working Group are pleased to confirm the test borehole for the renewable energy project was drilled in the grounds of the Chipping and District Memorial Hall in early January.

This test borehole will allow the design engineers to better understand local factors that will impact on the design of the system which will provide heat to the ground source heat pump community heat network.

Thermal load testing was completed on the borehole in early February to establish how much energy is available in the local rock to support the heat network. This will determine the design of the borehole system and confirm the number and depth of boreholes that will ultimately be required.

The work was completed as part of the feasibility study being undertaken by Prospus Group to support Chipping Community Energy in establishing the feasibility of capturing ground source heat in localised shared cluster energy networks operating at ground (ambient) temperature.

The shared ambient loop will be connected to ground source heat pumps in the individual dwellings, and where appropriate supported by solar generation. The ability to develop these small community energy networks, supported by local renewable energy generation where possible, can offer a more cost-effective route to low carbon heating, reducing dependence on imported grid energy, and help make energy more affordable in the longer term.