Faversham firm Geo-Mole's deep thinking wins award – and signals renewable-energy revolution

Faversham firm Geo-Mole has picked up a £40,000 award for a clever invention which will open up the benefits of renewable energy to many more people.

The firm, based at Abbey Farm, has won the Shell Springboard award for its device to simplify and cut the cost of installing underground heat pumps. The award was announced on February 15.

Geothermal heating and hot water is one of the most effective forms of renewable energy, using the heat produced naturally beneath the earth's core to heat homes and businesses. But its adoption has been limited so far because of the digging needed to install the necessary piping below ground. 

Geo-Mole's innovation is a small pneumatic mole with a special valve – fully patented –  which displaces soil to allow pipes to be put into the earth to the desired depth and connected to a ground-source heat pump. There's no heavy plant needed, minimal digging and therefore no mess. Geo-Mole says it can access all sorts of sites previously out of reach: cellars, small backyards, mid-terrace houses for instance. It should spark a revolution in the uptake of this kind of "free" energy. 

Mark Brice, director of Geo-Mole, said: "Geo-thermal heating is a brilliant source of renewable energy, but inaccessible to lots of homeowners because of the huge drilling technology that is currently used. Our small pneumatic mole removes the need for this, meaning that even homes with restricted space, such as mid-terrace houses in cities, can have access to geothermal for the first time.

"It's incredibly rewarding that such a prestigious programme as Shell Springboard has recognised the potential of Geo-Mole and the funding will allow us to continue to develop our business." 

The award was made on February 15.

Geo-Mole has made a couple of short videos showing the firm's approach to geothermal energy: http://www.geomole.co.uk/video.html