Latest News

Thermal Response Test Rigs from GECCO2

In response to the recent surge in demand for GSHP systems brought about by the announcement of the Renewable Heat Incentive, GECCO2 is pleased to offer the opportunity to purchase a bespoke Thermal Response Test Rig, built by us to your specifications.

GECCO2 Secures Croxteth Primary School

GECCO2 have secured the contract to install a Ground Source Heat Pump system at Croxteth Primary School, Liverpool.

RHI Premium Payments Scheme Announced

The Government has announced the details of the Renewable Heat Incentive Premium Payment Scheme, designed to help subsidise the cost of installing qualifying renewable heating systems.

GECCO2 Awarded Eccleshill Contract

GECCO2 have been awarded the contract to install two Ground Source Heat Pumps at the new Eccleshill Community Centre and Work Space building in Bradford

Renewable Heat Incentive Launched

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is the first scheme of its kind designed to make payments to householders, businesses and organizations which generate their own heat using qualifying renewable sources.

GECCO Install Energy Piles at The Leadenhall Building

GECCO are to Install One of the UK’s Largest Diameter Energy Pile® Systems at The Leadenhall Building

Recent Projects

University of Nottingham Science & Engineering Building

GECCO2 successfully commission another GSHP installation for the University of Nottingham. The 180kW heating and cooling system provides 100% of the cooling and the majority of the heating requirement for the new facility topped up by the district heating network.

For read further details Click Here

GECCO Named Project Manager for Manchester First Street

GECCO Named Project Manager for Manchester First Street ASK Developments have named GECCO as Project Manager for their 300kW closed loop GSHP installation on the flagship First Street site in Manchester. First Street, a 20-acre scheme to extend the heart of Manchester city centre, is one of the most significant and prestigious schemes in the North West.

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GECCO Secure High House Farm Contract

GECCO Secure High House Farm Contract Further to the successful completion of a Thermal Response Test (TRT) at High House Farm, Purfleet, GECCO have secured the contract to design and install a 100kW closed loop heating and cooling GSHP system, from Hiltons Building Services.

For read further details Click Here

GECCO Complete Brentwood School Installation

GECCO have completed the installation of the Geo-Exchange for the new Sixth Form Building at Brentwood School in Essex ahead of programme.

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GECCO Hits the High Note with Royal Opera House Project

GECCO has won a contract to install a closed loop ground source heat pump system for the Royal Opera House workshop building in Purfleet, via its client Swiftline Engineering Limited.

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GECCO Complete TRT at University of Nottingham Maths Building

The test has been carried out in order to provide information on the ground conditions to verify the design of a GSHP installation for the new Maths Building at The University of Nottingham.

For read further details Click Here

Why Do I Need a Thermal Response Test?

Good question. Put simply, the UK has some of the most complicated and varied geology in Europe, and whereas other countries may be able to rely on published data to provide accurate and reliable thermal conductivity values for a particular location, for the UK that is not the case. Of course, published data exists, and can provide a useful starting point for determining a system design, but to ensure sustainability, and particularly for larger or commercial schemes, a Thermal Response Test is vital for establishing the properties of the unique ground conditions for a particular project. Depending on the size of the ground array, it may even be necessary to conduct more than one TRT.

So what does a Thermal Response Test do?

A Thermal Response Test circulates fluid through a geothermal loop installed within a borehole or pile of a certain length depending on the design of the system for a set period of time (typically 50 hours) in order to determine the thermal conductivity properties of the ground conditions at a particular site and depth. Depending on the outcome of a Thermal Response Test, a GSHP design will either be a)verified, b)increased or c)decreased. If the thermal properties of the ground conditions are found to be less than anticipated, it may be necessary to either increase the number of boreholes or energy piles in a ground array, or install them to a greater depth. If the thermal properties of the ground conditions are found to be better than anticipated, it may be possible to reduce the number of boreholes or energy piles that need to be installed in order to meet an energy requirement.

Can I not just err on the side of caution?

Well, yes, of course you can. But the ground array (or Geo-Exchange) is the most expensive element per kW of a GSHP installation, so oversizing can have a dramatic impact on the cost, and thus the economic viability, of a GSHP installation. Oversizing also has implications in terms of the amount of time it takes to physically install the ground array, leading to further additional costs in terms of labour, headering materials and plant room equipment. A TRT can be conducted on a borehole either installed early on in a larger scheme to verify the design (with a greater or lesser number subsequently drilled according to the results), or on a borehole specifically drilled for the test, possibly prior to a design being finalised. Either way, the borehole used for the test can be fully included within the final scheme.

What if my ground array is too small?

Now we're in horror story territory. At best, the system will put too much strain on the ground, with the effect that the CoP (Coefficient of Performance) of the Heat Pump is greatly reduced, meaning it is much more expensive to run. A sustainable and well designed Heat Pump system should provide a CoP of about 4, meaning that for every unit of electricity the Heat Pump uses, it produces 4 units of heat energy. If your CoP is reduced, not only will it be costing you far more to run your system, you will also be reducing or possibly even negating your carbon savings. A dramatically undersized ground array can freeze solid, causing the ground to swell with the result of possible damage to nearby structures. First rule of Ground Source Heat Pumps? Don't undersize your ground array. Second rule of Ground Source Heat Pumps? Don't undersize your ground array.

What else do I need to know?

A Thermal Response Test cannot be carried out on a freshly installed borehole. You should wait at least 5 full days before conducting a TRT depending on drilling technique and Ground Conditions, in order to ensure any exothermic reactions from the drilling and grouting process has completed and will not affect the results. Good TRT practice is to run a test for a minimum of 50 hours, and GECCO2 take a reading every minute. A TRT can also give an indication of other factors which may affect a GSHP system performance, such as groundwater flow, for which there is no published data.

Order a TRT Rig Today

Please contact us on 01606 786746 or email trt@gecco2.com for any further information