Managing director of Kensa, Simon Lomax, has been elected as the new chairman of the Ground Source Heat Pump Association (GSHPA).
Mr Lomax said: '2013 represents a pivotal year for the ground source heat pump industry. Following significant input from the GSHPA, DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) has already indicated that it intends to increase the Commercial RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) Phase One tariffs, which will provide a much-needed boost to a technology that has struggled to remain competitive in a market that has been distorted by unfair subsidy levels. In addition, the GSHPA will be actively involved in the final development of the RHI's domestic Phase Two policy, which should be finally announced in the summer.'

As well as supporting efforts in Whitehall, Mr Lomax is keen to strengthen the GSHPA's efforts to publicise the appeal of the technology to the wider market.

'The sheer versatility of ground source heat pumps, particularly their ability to provide heating and cooling, has complicated DECC's task to produce sound policy. Sadly, technically elegant GSHP solutions have been replaced with less appropriate alternatives which benefit from more generous subsidy support.

'The Government's latest Heat Strategy continues to support the substantial deployment of ground source heat pumps and it is essential that members are able to compete fairly against other technologies.'

Established in 2005, the GSHPA supports over 90 members representing designers, manufacturers, installers, drilling contractors and end-users of ground source heat pump technology.