Chancellor Rachel Reeves Visits Kensa to Discuss Cornwall’s Role in Green Energy Transition

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has paid a visit to Kensa, a Truro-based manufacturer of ground source heat pumps, to hear from Cornish businesses helping to drive Britain's energy transition.

During her visit on Tuesday 29th July, the Chancellor toured Kensa's factory and took part in a roundtable discussion with companies leading the way in green growth across the region. The visit highlighted the increasing role Cornwall is playing in delivering clean, affordable energy.

Kensa outlines bold expansion plans

Kensa, which produces the award-winning Shoebox NX, shared its ambitious five-year plans, including scaling up production and installation of ground source heat pumps to 25,000 units per year and increasing its workforce to 450. Hundreds more jobs are expected to be created in the wider UK supply chain.

The company is also pushing forward with its networked heat pump system, which enables energy-efficient heating in homes without outdoor space, including high-rises and Victorian terraces.

Kensa welcomed recent government announcements, including the move towards clean heating in new build homes, which the company is already supporting through its partnership with GTC. They also backed the £13.2 billion Warm Homes Plan and the strategy to grow UK-based heat pump manufacturing.

Tamsin Lishman, Kensa CEO, said:

"Kensa sits at the heart of the government's plans for green industrial growth, a proud Cornish manufacturer of ground source heat pumps and a nationwide installer of heat networks.

Kensa has bold ambitions to invest and expand its workforce and operations over the next five years, making sure it fully plays its role in the delivery of green jobs and growth.

I have been buoyed by the recent government announcements on the Future Homes Standard, major funding commitments for the Warm Homes Plan, and a clear plan to bolster heat pump manufacturing as part of the new Industrial Strategy. This is the policy platform we need for growth in Kensa and in Cornwall, and we look forward to working with the government to deliver it."

Roundtable shines spotlight on Cornwall's green growth potential

The visit also brought together energy leaders from across the region. Attendees at the roundtable included representatives from Geothermal Engineering Ltd, Celtic Sea Power, Eden Geothermal Limited, Cornish Metals, and Naked Solar. Local MPs Perran Moon and Jayne Kirkham, Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and the National Wealth Fund also took part.

Discussions focused on Cornwall's natural resources and its potential to lead in areas such as geothermal heat and power, floating offshore wind, and clean heating technologies. The Chancellor expressed interest in how the National Wealth Fund, British Business Bank and UK Export Finance could support industrial growth in the region.

Rachel Reeves said:

"It was fantastic to visit Kensa today and hear their ambitious expansion plans first-hand. Companies like Kensa are crucial to transforming Britain into a clean energy superpower.

Meeting with local energy leaders to discuss Cornwall's role in green growth demonstrated exactly what our Plan for Change is about. We are backing British innovation, supporting homegrown energy and putting money back in working people's pockets through cheaper, cleaner energy."

The visit follows a similar one last year from Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and continues to underline the national spotlight on Cornwall's contribution to the green economy.