Shared Ground Loops Could Fill Key Gap in UK Heat Decarbonisation, Study Finds

A new study co-authored by Frin Bale from the Visions of Urban Heat Systems team has identified shared ground loop (SGL) heating systems as a promising but underused technology that could help decarbonise heating in thousands of UK homes, particularly in areas where conventional heat pumps and large district heating networks are not practical.

Published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, the research examined the deployment of SGLs across the UK and found that the technology is currently used mainly in social housing and new-build developments. Researchers say wider adoption has been slowed by high upfront costs, gaps in national policy, limited market competition, and a lack of suitable business models for mixed-tenure communities.

Shared ground loops connect multiple properties to a common underground heat-source network while allowing each building to operate its own heat pump. According to the study, this approach can be particularly valuable in higher-density neighbourhoods where homes lack the outdoor space needed for individual heat pumps but are not located within government-designated Heat Network Zones.

The authors argue that SGLs could play an important role in the UK's transition away from gas and oil heating. Their analysis suggests the systems may offer advantages in retrofit projects by sharing expensive ground infrastructure across multiple homes, potentially making ground-source heat technology more accessible.

However, the researchers found that the sector remains small, with around 2,500 systems currently deployed in the UK. They call for stronger policy recognition of SGLs, greater support through local planning and community energy strategies, and the development of utility-style delivery models that could make installations easier for a broader range of households.

While SGLs are currently more expensive than some other low-carbon heating options, the study concludes that costs could fall as the market matures and competition increases. The authors say targeted policy support could help unlock the technology's potential as a flexible, low-carbon heating solution for areas that fall between the UK's preferred approaches of individual heat pumps and large heat networks.

Barns D.G., Bale C.S.E., Turner J.T., Loveridge F., Rees S., Fletcher M., (2026) Opportunities and costs for shared ground loops. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. Volume 228