Ed Miliband in Cornwall at Kensa and on Falmouth Pilot Boat

The Shadow Secretary for Energy and Net Zero toured Kensa’s Cornwall factory at Chacewater to see how some of the UK’s leading Ground Source Heat Pump solutions are being developed.

He also managed to fit in a quick spin on the Falmouth Harbour Pilot Boat Arrow this afternoon, to discuss future green and blue marine plans.

Joined by local Labour candidates Perran Moon and Jayne Kirkham, Mr Miliband met with Kensa’s CEO, Tamsin Lishman, and other employees to discuss the British company’s plans to decarbonise heat and hear more about their vision to deliver affordable, renewable heating and cooling to millions of people across the UK.

On the back of £70m in investment from Legal & General and Octopus Energy, Kensa is working with communities and businesses across the UK to deliver its heat decarbonisation solution – Networked Heat Pumps.

Networked Heat Pumps consist of ground source heat pumps installed in individual properties - whether that’s flats, terraced streets or new-build homes - connected to a shared network of underground pipework, providing each property with low-cost, renewable heating, hot water and cooling.

This has already been implemented for thousands of properties across the UK, including 273 high-rise social housing flats in Thurrock, lowering residents' bills by up to 66%. It’s also heating new-build properties in Bristol and has been rolled out under the streets for medium-density housing in Stithians.

Mr Miliband is given a tour of Kensa's facility at Chacewater (Image: Kensa Group)

The Government has an ambition to install 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028. Powered by the wider adoption of Networked Heat Pumps, Kensa expects to contribute significantly to this figure, ramping up heat pump production to 70,000 a year by the end of the decade and creating more than 7,000 green UK manufacturing jobs in the process.

Earlier this year, Kensa launched its newest ground source heat pump, the Shoebox NX. The compact heat pump, designed for networked heat pumps, is five times more efficient than a gas boiler, will deliver heating and cooling for almost any home and is small enough to fit inside a cupboard.

Mr Miliband told Kensa’s Tamsin Lishman: “I’m incredibly impressed by everything I’ve seen here. The workforce, the vision, the commitment to tackling fuel poverty, I think Kensa’s got a really important role to play.

“It (ground source heat pumps) is an innovative technology, it’s a crucial technology, it’s absolutely part of the mix if I’m concerned, and If Labour’s in Government and I’m the Secretary of State after July 4, I look forward to working with Kensa to tackle the shared goals we have, to tackle fuel poverty and decarbonise our country.

“It’s not just about decarbonisation, and clean energy and tackling fuel poverty, it’s about good jobs for people, it’s about good wages which is really important to Cornwall and really important across the country. Talking to people on your (Kensa’s) shop floor, they’re really enjoying what they’re doing, but we need more people to know about these opportunities.”

Following the visit Kensa CEO, Tamsin Lishman, said: “It was a huge pleasure to welcome Ed, Perran and Jayne to our factory today and explain our vision to deliver affordable, renewable heating and cooling to millions of people across the UK using Networked Heat Pumps.

“Networked heat pumps are already servicing thousands of properties across the UK, lowering energy bills, tackling fuel poverty and keeping people warm in all types of properties, whether that’s social housing flats, terraced homes or new-builds.

“Backed by our investors, we’re excited to expand the reach of Networked Heat Pumps. By decarbonising heat street-by-street, tower-block-by-tower-block, we will help create thousands of green UK manufacturing jobs and help ensure greater energy security.”

Mr Miliband later paid a brief visit to Falmouth, where he took to the water onboard Falmouth Harbour’s Pilot Boat Arrow.

Earlier this year Falmouth Harbour won £98,989 from the Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ Shared Prosperity Fund to carry out an in-depth study on how current and future technology in the marine industry can bring more jobs and benefit the lives of people in the town in the years to come.

Mr Miliband took the helm of the Pilot Boat for a time (Image: Falmouth Harbour)

It will examine the current marine industry and infrastructure, with future ‘blue technologies’ seen as key to establishing Falmouth as the leading port of call for servicing offshore wind and power, and other small commercial and leisure vessels – with Falmouth Harbour working alongside Falmouth Marine School on developing future skills, particularly around offshore technology, to support renewables and wind power.

Mr Miliband was told more about these plans during his visit, in which he sailed off St Anthony Lighthouse and St Mawes Castle – at one point taking the helm.